Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions her Department has had with (a) secondary school teachers and (b) head teachers on (i) smart phones in schools and (ii) young people on social media.

The department engages regularly with teachers and headteachers and their representative bodies on a range of issues, including mobile phone use in schools and the impact of social media on young people. This includes engagement through the department’s teacher and headteacher reference groups.

The department’s ‘Mobile phones in schools’ guidance is clear that schools should prohibit the use of devices with smart technology throughout the school day, including during lessons, transitions and breaks.