'Phone ban sees pupils talk to each other more'

A mobile phone ban in a Manchester school has made pupils more sociable and involved, a senior teacher has said.

In October all schools in England were given government guidance to curb mobile phone use during the school day.

But Burnage Academy for Boys banned phones nearly 12 years ago, and associate assistant head teacher Greg Morrison said it had made a "big impact".

Dr Louise Black, from the University of Manchester's School of Education, said it was important "to keep having conversations about digital literacy and staying safe".

Mr Morrison said banning phones meant there was "one less distraction in the classroom".

Phones are not allowed at any point - including break times - until the end of the school day.

"We have seen a big impact in terms of engagement in class," he said.

"When you see groups of young people out and about in town, they're all sitting round the table looking at their phones and not talking.

"What we see here at lunchtime is pupils playing football, pupils sitting talking, pupils sharing food with each other."

Year 11 student Logan said he liked the ban in school as it meant he was not distracted.

Another student, Lucas, said: "Me and my mates, we just talk to each other for the whole lunch."

Education expert Dr Black said: "Phones are very much part of young people's lives".

She said young people use them "in lots of different ways" and some teachers find it useful to use apps in the classroom.

But she stressed schools "are very varied and what works in one school won't necessarily work in another".

The government guidance allows schools to decide their own policies on mobile phone use.