Western Mail School takes lead as phone fears grow

AGAINST a concerning backdrop of increasing violence in classrooms and a mental health crisis among the young, yesterday we reported how the Senedd is to take a look at national guidance for mobile phone usage in schools in Wales.

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Ninety per cent of the UK's 11-year-olds own a smartphone, along with almost half the nation’s nine-year-olds.

While Senedd members tread cautiously around the issue of an outright ban in schools, today we report how schools in Monmouthshire have gone further in addressing the issue.

Headteachers are calling on parents to take responsibility and not buy their children smartphones until they are at least 14 or 15, in Year 10 or above.

They are not calling for a ban, but rather a co-ordinated approach to face the problems caused by social media and videos accessed and spread on phones head on.