Commenting on the government's newly released guidance for schools on mobile phone use, Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of NASUWT - The Teachers' Union, said:

 

"The Department for Education has today announced what it claims to be a 'crackdown' on mobile phone use in schools. It is both baffling and frustrating to read the small print and see that this is not a crackdown of any sort. Almost half a year after Gillian Keegan first promised it, there's nothing new here.

 

"The majority of schools already have robust and effective policies in place that pre-empted the Government’s guidance.

 

“If the Government wants seriously to address disruption, bullying and abuse in schools, they should stop wasting everyone's time with empty gestures and face up to the damaging impact of the deepening behaviour crisis in schools.

 

“Ministers need to do more to demonstrate that they will back teachers and headteachers in dealing with all forms of disruption, bullying and abusive behaviour."