Smartphone ban Parents largely back school move

PARENTS have largely welcomed a Bristol primary school’s decision to completely ban smartphones after a teacher's shocking discovery.

- Post REPORTER

As the Post reported last Friday, children at Blackhorse Primary School in Emersons Green will no longer be allowed to bring in smartphones, even if they are just using them during their journey to and from the gates.

Previously, pupils had been allowed to bring smartphones to school, but had to hand them in to the teacher during lesson time.

However, a worrying incident has led to stricter rules that will come into force in September.

Speaking outside the school this week, parents welcomed the ban but others questioned if it was necessary to apply it outside of the school gates.

Lee Budd, father of Jonnie, eight, said: "I don’t think it's a bad idea at all. Phones consume attention."

A mother of a Year 5 student and a former Blackhorse pupil, now in Year 7 at another school, said: "It was the school that encouraged us to get a phone for my Year 7 daughter so she could walk to school on her own.

"I feel neutral, really, but I don’t see why they need to change the current rule of leaving the phone in a box at the start and end of the day."