Restrictions have been introduced in all States secondary schools, but some parents have recently reported cases of their children being asked to use their phones in class to take photos of timetables or download learning material.
Education president Paul Montague told the Guernsey Press that teachers should not be asking students to use their phones in lessons.
‘The policy is really clear – off and away in school,’ he said.
Hear more from Deputy Montague on the latest Guernsey Press Politics Podcast
‘Last year there was general agreement across the 11-16 schools, but there were slight differences in practice, so that has all been tied up now.
‘We’re trying to encourage people not to bring their smartphones into school at all.’
He said that smartphones should be used during the school day only when a teacher has given permission, for example for medical reasons or to pay for lunch, and work was ongoing to reduce further any need for students to have the devices with them while in school.
Deputy Montague also backed tighter policies on smartphone use introduced at the Sixth Form Centre at La Mare de Carteret.
Sixth form students, some of whom are legally adults, are now asked to leave their phones in a tray at the front of the classroom during lessons.
A small number have complained that the policy does not show them enough respect or trust.
‘Over the past few years, I have personally observed the increasing disruption to student concentration caused by mobile phones in classes,’ said Deputy Montague, a teacher himself until his recent election to the States.
‘Phones are not being confiscated. Students only have to do this during taught lessons. They all have their own laptops, so this is no impediment to accessing online resources.’
The new approach was adopted after local staff saw it working well at successful sixth forms they visited in the UK.
‘That works really well. I have no problem with that,’ said Deputy Montague.
‘It’s a social contract. Students come into the class, they put the phone at the front, they go on with their work.
‘I know that’s going to be a really good thing that they’ve done.’
Deputy Montague was one of three newly-elected presidents of States committees who said in July that they wanted to tackle misuse of smartphones and social media by children.
The trio, including Deputies George Oswald and Marc Leadbeater, said they believed action was needed to protect local youngsters from harmful material online and prevent them becoming addicted to devices.
Deputy Montague said he supported ‘a community-led ban on smartphones for primary-age children’.
College trialling blackout tech to disable distracting apps
Elizabeth College is using technology which helps disable distracting apps on smartphones during school time.
A trial of the software will be rolled out during this academic year for students in Years 7 and 8 at the upper school.
The college is also reviewing its mobile phone use policy for Year 11 students.
Some parents claimed over the weekend that their children in Year 11 had been allowed to use smartphones to play games during lunch times. They felt it could be detrimental during their GCSE year.
A period of consultation with parents was opened on Monday. The college said that its mobile phone policy had not changed since 2021. It allows phones to be used in lessons when a teacher gives permission but otherwise requires them not to be seen or heard during the school day. Any student breaking the policy may have their phone confiscated for the day and be issued with a detention.
There is an exception for students in Year 11 and the sixth form, who may use phones at social times in their common room spaces, which are supervised by members of staff.
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