Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has announced plans to ban mobile phones in English schools, but this is not the first time that such a measure has been proposed.
The Conservative Party has backed calls for the classroom ban several times before, and has also previously indicated on two occasions that such a ban would not be necessary.
Here are all the times that the Tories have backed or ruled out a classroom ban on phones:
November 2007 – Conservatives back phone ban
In 2007, the Conservative Party, which was in opposition at the time, set out proposals to ban mobile phones in schools.
Michael Gove, who was shadow schools secretary, reportedly stated that the “balance has to shift back in the classroom in favour of the teacher”.
“We must do more to tackle the problems of poor discipline and high rates of truancy if the opportunities of education are to be open to all,” he said.
The proposals were dismissed by the Labour government at the time.
November 2011 – Education Act
The Education Act, one of the first major pieces of education legislation set out by the coalition government, gave teachers extended powers to search pupils for any items that are banned by school rules such as mobile phones.
It received Royal Assent in November 2011 and included provisions giving schools greater power to discipline students and more protection to teachers facing allegations.
Earlier that year, the Government had issued new guidance which would allow heads and school staff to search pupils for mobile phones, pornography and cigarettes.
