The government will issue new guidance across England to ban mobile phones from schools, the education secretary has announced.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan made the announcement later today during the Conservative Party conference, which is being held in Manchester this week.

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She has recommended that the devices are prohibited not just in the classroom, but at break times as well.

In her speech, Ms Keegan said: “Today, one of the biggest issues facing children and teachers is grappling with the impact of smartphones in our schools.

“The distraction, the disruption, the bullying. We know that teachers are struggling with their impact and we know that they need support.

“So, today we are recognising the amazing work that many schools have done in banning mobile phones and we are announcing that we will change guidance so that all schools will follow their lead.”

However, the proposal has raised some eyebrows around the event, as many schools have already instituted a ban.

As it will just be guidance, the new rule would also not be enforceable, meaning it will still be up to individual schools to decide on their policy.

It is also unclear when the guidance will be published.

It is not the first time a Tory minister has suggested a ban, with schools minister Nick Gibb making the call for one in 2019 and Sir Gavin Williamson following suit in 2021.

But a consultation by the Department for Education on a ban in 2022 concluded most schools “have well developed plans in place” to tackle the issue, adding: “Further intervention from government isn’t necessary.”

The general secretary of teaching union NASUWT, Dr Patrick Roach, said: “The government needs to focus on properly supporting the work of teachers and headteachers rather than announcements designed to detract attention from more than a decade of policy failure.

“If the government introduces blanket bans that are unenforceable, this will make the behaviour crisis [in schools] worse, not better.”

The general secretary of the National Education Union, Daniel Kebede, echoed the sentiment, saying: “The government’s consultation exercise earlier this year concluded that most schools already have policies in place to deal with the problems of mobile phone use.

“We hope that Gillian Keegan will use her conference speech to announce positive measures that face up to the deep challenges in our schools, rather than distracting attention from them.”