The Government has issued new guidelines aimed at curbing mobile phone use in schools to improve behaviour and minimise disruptions. The move follows previous calls for phone bans. Education secretary Gillian Keegan emphasised the need for consistency across schools but hinted at potential legislation if the guidelines prove ineffective. While some students see benefits in limited phone access, the Association of School and College Leaders doubts the effectiveness of the guidelines, considering existing school policies. Critics argue that the Government should focus on more pressing issues, such as funding and special needs. The announcement coincides with calls for tighter regulations on children's social media access following a tragic incident. However, the Government remains cautious about restricting phone access for under-16s. Despite differing school policies across the UK, complete phone bans are rare, and the UN has highlighted global concerns about phones' negative impacts on education.