“Teachers and school leaders have consistently reported that pupils using mobile phones in schools interrupts learning and damages concentration,” Bates said.<\/p>\n
“Deputy Montague is correct, there does need to be a culture shift. This can’t just be done by schools alone.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
However, some areas like the canteen and school bus have been labelled as “ambiguous areas” where phones may be needed for payment.<\/p>\n
But Montague said changes in those areas had been made: “I understand from next week the buses won’t require phones to access them.<\/p>\n
“You don’t need to pay with a phone, you can pay with cash in our canteens and also you can pay with cards.”<\/p>\n
Follow BBC Guernsey on X, external<\/a> and Facebook, external<\/a> and Instagram, external<\/a>. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk, external<\/a>.<\/p>\n