Thames Valley schools to get police funding for phone bans

Secondary schools in the Thames Valley can apply for a share of £255,000 police funding to help impose a ban on phones in schools.

The money, announced by the region's police and crime commissioner (PCC), can be used for phone-free measures such as lockable pouches.

The PCC said it would come from proceeds of the sale of stolen goods that could not be returned to their owners.

A legally enforceable ban on smartphones in schools came into force on Monday after being announced by the government in April.

Thames Valley PCC Matthew Barber said the funding recognised the link between poor discipline in school because of phones leading to anti-social behaviour outside

The PCC's announcement was made in Didcot at the Aureus School, whose head teacher, Kirsty Rogers, said a phone ban had been "transformative" for their students' learning and mental wellbeing.

"We have seen a notable improvement in students' focus, engagement in lessons, and the quality of social interaction across the school day," she said.

"We are delighted to... see further investment in approaches that place students' learning, wellbeing and personal development at the forefront".

Thames Valley PCC Matthew Barber said the force recognised that poor discipline in schools through phone use could "spill over" into anti-social behaviour outside of school.

"At the most extreme end, we will see some children who are exploited through social media and the use of mobile phones," he said.

Head teacher Kirsty Rogers said the change since banning phones had been "transformative"

While some schools like Aureus already have bans in place, others have opted to only allow their students to have older "brick phones" on school premises.

Students at Aureus have to stow their phones in a lockable pouch every day before they enter the school.

Student Amy said it had been a "massive change" not having her phone in her blazer pocket during the school day.

"Ever since we've had the pouches, it's made a massive [difference to] our education," she said.

"The behaviour has changed as well... people want to learn more."

Rogers previously told the BBC the pouches were unpopular when they were first introduced, but many students have now said they had got used to them.

The funding is available to secondary schools and middle schools and all-through schools (ages four to 16 or 18) but not primary schools, sixth form colleges or private schools.

Schools that successfully apply will have the funding from September.

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