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School phone ban begins for whole of Edinburgh

Three pupils wearing blue school jumpers, white shirts and grey skirts/trousers are looking at a phone the girl in the middle is holding while they are walking in the school corridorGetty Images

Pupils in Scotland are preparing to head back to school this month, but those in Edinburgh won't be allowed their phones at all during the school day - not even at break time.

The City of Edinburgh Council is one of the first local authorities in the country to introduce the restrictions.

Primary school pupils will have to lock them away in cabinets during the day, while secondary school pupils will have to lock them in a pouch.

Not all schools will have these pouches available from the start of term though.

The council's Education Convener James Dalgleish said: "Every school will have a pouch system in place by the start of October at the latest."

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A Yondr pouch on the desk as a child sits a test.City of Edinburgh Council

The City of Edinburgh Council says the lockable phone pouches won't be available for all the schools in the area by the start of the new school year

The Scottish government introduced guidance allowing head teachers to introduce phone bans in schools in 2024.

Scotland's Education Secretary announced this summer that all school learning environments will become phone-free and encouraged schools across the country to start bringing in restrictions at the start of the school year.

Two schools in Edinburgh have been trying the lockable pouches as part of a pilot, becoming the first schools in Scotland to do so.

A report on the trials said the pilot looked "broadly successful" so far and its impact looked positive.

a group of pupils in school uniform look at a mobile phone held by one of the pupils in the centre as they all huddle round.getty

The council is developing guidance for schools with pupils with health needs or caring responsibilities who might need access to their mobile phones during the school day.

Councillor James Dalgleish said:

"This is a monumental step for Edinburgh's children and young people and I am proud that we are one of the first local authorities in the country to introduce widespread restrictions on mobile phones in schools.

"I've been clear from the start that we wanted to be bold in our ambition to make our schools phone free environments that enable our teachers to teach and pupils to learn without the distraction of devices in the classroom."

Are you allowed your phones in school? Do you have to lock them away? Do you think it's fair? Let us know in the comments below?