BARNSLEY schools have backed the government’s move to make all schools phone-free zones - and local headteachers have said they’ve already implemented the scheme successfully.

The government says England’s schools’ inspectorate, Ofsted, will be given the power to check policies on phone use, with ministers saying they expect schools to be ‘phone-free by default’ as a result.

A whole host of schools across the town already have similar schemes in place and say the new guidance is ‘welcome’.

Andy Downing, the principal of Netherwood Academy, says the move to make schools phone-free, with clear guidance for leaders of the uses of mobile phones in school is a positive step.

Netherwood became a fully phone-free school in September at the start of this academic term, with teachers collecting pupils’ phones in morning form time and giving them back at the end of the day.

The phones are put in secure mobile lockers and then locked away in a storage room during the school day.

Once reunited with their phones in afternoon form time, pupils are asked to put them in their bags until they have left the premises.

After a full term with the scheme, Mr Downing says it is working and has praised the government’s latest move.

He said: “At Netherwood, we have already taken the decision to remove phones at our school because we want to offer a safe haven from the constant pressures of notifications.

“We know that phones can expose youngsters to harmful content and are highly addictive, preventing young people from developing vital social skills.

“They also reduce attention spans which can hinder their concentration.

“With this ban in place, we are seeing students develop the art and pleasure of communicating face-to-face with their peers, free from the distraction of phones.

“I welcome the news that the government is serious about tackling the concerns schools and families have around mobile phone and social media usage.”

Amir Arezoo, principal of Astrea Academy Dearne in Goldthorpe, added: “At Dearne, we ask students to put their phones into pouches which means that they do not have the pressure of notifications during the school day.

“Phone pouches support our commitment to learning by keeping lessons free from distraction and we have also found that they encourage healthier habits around technology.

“It has been a pleasure to see students connecting with their peers in school in meaningful, in-person conversations, free from the pull of their devices.

“We welcome the news that the government is committed to addressing the issues and concerns that adults have around young people and their mobile phone and social media usage.”

Paul Crook, principal at Penistone Grammar School echoed his comments and added: “We already operate a ‘phone-free zone’ from 8am to 3pm, and we see daily the benefits this brings to student wellbeing and learning.

“The safeguarding risks associated with mobile phones - such as online bullying, harmful social media trends, peer pressure, and increasingly concerning behaviours like upskirting - are significant and deeply worrying.

“Schools should be environments of calm, safety, and nurture for both students and staff.

“Any policy or guidance that helps protect young people and reduce distractions in the classroom is something we warmly welcome.”

A consultation will identify the next steps in the government’s plan to boost children’s wellbeing online, ensuring they have a healthy relationship with mobile phones and social media.

The proposals will build on the government’s broader action to ensure every child gets the best start in life, including a revised curriculum and better skills training.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “We have been clear that mobile phones have no place in our/ schools but now we’re going further through tougher guidance and stronger enforcement.

“Mobile phones have no place in schools.

“No ifs, no buts.

“Our Attendance and Behaviour Hubs will support schools that are struggling to effectively implement phone bans so all our children can learn in phone-free environments.

“This comes alongside our world-leading curriculum reforms which will ensure children build the media and digital literacy skills needed to thrive at work and throughout life.”