“Teachers and school leaders have consistently reported that pupils using mobile phones in schools interrupts learning and damages concentration,” Bates said.
“Deputy Montague is correct, there does need to be a culture shift. This can’t just be done by schools alone.
“But in the absence of that, then proactive measures need to be taken to prevent that interruption of learning that, damage in a concentration and that confrontation that can arise from the misuse of phones by pupils.”
Guernsey’s States schools operate an “off and away policy” which requires students to have their phone turned off and put away through the entire school day.
However, some areas like the canteen and school bus have been labelled as “ambiguous areas” where phones may be needed for payment.
But Montague said changes in those areas had been made: “I understand from next week the buses won’t require phones to access them.
“You don’t need to pay with a phone, you can pay with cash in our canteens and also you can pay with cards.”
Follow BBC Guernsey on X, external and Facebook, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk, external.