Ofsted chief inspector backs ban on phones in schools

The chief inspector of Ofsted is backing head teachers who ban mobile phones to prevent bad behaviour.

In a speech, Amanda Spielman is expected to blame technology for making "low-level disruption" more common and endorse tough behaviour policies.

"The place of mobile phones in the classroom seems to me dubious at best," she will say.

Her speech comes after Culture Secretary Matt Hancock also called on head teachers to ban phones.

Ms Spielman is due to tell the audience at the Festival of Education at Wellington College that it was "entirely appropriate" for schools to use sanctions such as writing lines, detention or "community service" punishments such as picking up litter.

She will say: "I fundamentally disagree with those who say that taking a tough stance on behaviour is unfair to children.

"Quite the opposite, there is nothing kind about letting a few pupils spoil school for everyone else."

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