School becomes 1st in UK to force pupils to lock their phones away until end of day – & teachers can confiscate devices

A SCHOOL has become the first in the UK to force pupils to lock their phones away until the end of the day - and teachers can confiscate the devices.

Wimbledon High School in south-west London has brought in what staff there call a Phone Away Box.

Year 7 and Year 8 pupils at the girls' school have to put their phones in clear boxes on their lockers before morning registration - where they stay until 4pm.

Deputy head Ben Turner told : "School life doesn't end at the end of the school day any more, as it did during our childhoods.

"There is loads of evidence of the impact of phones on level of interaction and on mental health.

"Children go home and continue to interact with their school friends into the small hours.

"We felt like we needed to put in some practical measures to help our students make decisions that are right for them."

Pupils are also barred from taking their phones on school trips.

Girls in Year 11 are allowed to look at their phones in the common room during breaktime - before putting them back in the box.

The clampdown comes after Education Secretary Gillian Keegan vowed to ban mobile phones from UK classrooms.

She says the move would help to end disruption and make it easier for pupils to focus.

She promised to outlaw smartphones during lessons and breaks at the Tory conference in Manchester last month.

A UN report has recommended a ban to boost learning and cut cyberbullying.

Meanwhile, a whole town near Ireland's capital Dublin has taken action to prevent youngsters from having mobile phones.