EAST Lancashire school leaders have conflicting ideas about the benefits of students bringing their own smartphones and tablets into schools ahead of the new term.

Schools across the region have their own individual policies on students’ personal technology ranging from a blanket band through to allowing them in lessons.

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The issue has hit the headlines again after a national survey revealed that nearly half of parents believe they phones and tablets in schools have a negative effect on social skills and learning.

In total, children will return to school with tech items worth £3.2billion in their school bags, according to the research by independent price comparison website uSwitch.com.

Xavier Bowers, headteacher at Mount Carmel RC High School in Accrington said: “It’s a very controversial issue and one that has become harder for schools to deal with over recent years.

“Everybody seems to have a smartphone these days whatever your age.

“We allow the children to have smartphones with them but they have to be turned off and in their bags during the school day.

“However, sometimes the teachers will allow them to be used as part of the lesson for research or as a calculator.

“There are certainly benefits to using technology in schools but the use of students’ personal mobile phones has to be carefully managed.”

Headteacher of Colne Primet Academy Lynne Blomley said: “It is Colne Primet Academy’s policy that no mobile devices are to be seen anywhere in the building in order to ensure our students receive a clear and consistent message to focus on learning.

“However, we do completely support and promote the use of technology for educational purposes and we provide this technology when it is needed.”

Nic Ford, a former deputy headteacher at Pleckgate High School in Blackburn, helped to introduce iPads at the school in a bid to aid learning.

He said: “At Pleckgate the students were not allowed to use their phones in the school buildings and only outside during lunch time.

“In getting the iPads in school the students were encouraged to use them more in their lessons.

“If you completely ban technology then you are not completely preparing the children for the world they are going in to.”

St Christopher’s CE High School in Accrington changed its policy over the summer to not allow mobile phones to be used during the school day.

Headteacher Richard Jones said: “The decision to ban phones during the school day followed consultation with parents, governors and staff.

“Our decision refines previous policy. Phones have never been allowed during lessons but were permitted during recreational time. This is no longer the case.”