HEADTEACHERS in East Lancashire already take a tough stance on mobile phone use during the school day, as Ofsted plans to ban them in classrooms.

It comes as the education watchdog’s chief inspector of schools Sir Michael Wilshaw said that mobile phones were often to blame for disruptions during lessons.

He said that banning mobile phones from classrooms would create a better learning environment which would drive up standards and warned that from September that inspectors would review mobile phone use in schools.

Heads in the area said that when children are allowed mobile phones they must be switched off unless permission is asked to use them.

But new Building Schools for the Future, BSF, schools have steel-framed structures which are inadvertently preventing students’ attempts to make calls or send text messages.

Another headteacher also said that schools should decide the policy on mobile phone use not Ofsted.

Nigel Dawson, head of Fearns Community Sports College, said: “While as a school we currently do not allow mobile phones to be used within the classroom I do not think that this should be a decision taken by Ofsted.

“By banning mobile phones without giving schools discretion we run the risk of ignoring the potential of technologies to support learning opportunities.

St Augustine’s RC High School, Billington, headteacher Anthony McNamara said: “Mobile phones are permitted in school but must at all times be kept switched off until pupils physically leave the school site.

“Pupils may phone their parents at breaks and lunchtimes if they need to but they must ask permission from a member of staff.

“Pupils may not text their parents during the school day without staff permission and we would ask parents not to text their children during the school day. "Pupils must hand in their mobiles to the school office before any exam.

Haslingden High School head Mark Jackson said: “Mobile phones are not allowed in school at all so any plan by Ofsted does not affect us.”