Phones to be banned from NSW high school classrooms from October

The date a ban on mobile phones at public high schools across NSW will start has been confirmed as Chris Minns moves swiftly to implement a key education change.

Phones will be banned in public high schools across NSW from October as Labor makes good on its promise to rid mobiles from classrooms.

The NSW Government will implement the ban starting from when students return to school for their fourth term on October 9.

It’s understood NSW Labor has backed away from its thought-bubble idea of introducing phone jamming technology to schools, with low-tech options like collecting students’ phones at the start of the day a more likely option to be pursued.

It’s understood Labor would also explore the blanket rollout of lockable pouches and lockers to keep phones from students during the day.

In carrying out the election promise, NSW Premier Chris Minns said it was “time to clear our classrooms of unnecessary distractions”.

“I know many parents who are anxious about the pervasiveness of phones and technology in our children’s learning environments,” he said.

“It’s time to clear our classrooms of unnecessary distractions and create better environments for learning.”

NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns will implement a ban on phones in high schools - something already in place for primary schools, meaning no phones in classrooms for siblings John, 5, Aalia, 13, Amira, 11, James, 9 and Joseph, 7. Picture: David Swift

The NSW Government will start consulting with schools on Monday about how best to carry out the ban.

It means students won’t have access to their mobiles during class, recess and lunch, but would have it while travelling to and from school.

Phones are already banned at primary schools in NSW, while South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia already have phone bans at secondary schools.

“These bans will be applied with common sense and in consultation with the experts, to ensure it works to improve our children’s learning outcomes,” Mr Minns said.

Chris Minns made the pledge as one of his key election promises. Picture: NCA Newswire/ Monique Harmer

Before the election Mr Minns repeatedly didn’t rule out the use of phone jamming technology similar to what was in prison, saying: “We have to have our minds open to emerging technologies so that kids can focus in the classrooms”.

It appears Labor will instead follow more basic methods, like those in place at Condell Park High School, where phones have been banned for the last 16 years.

Each morning students at the school drop their phones off with staff before picking them up at the end of the day, with principal Susie Mobayed saying the move had also resulted in lower instances of cyberbullying.

“This means teachers and students are focusing on teaching and learning with no interruptions. There’s also no room for cyberbullying, social media or taking photos and videos during the school day,” Ms Mobayed said.

High school principal Susie Mobayed pictured at Condell Park High School.

Education Minister Prue Car said parents across NSW were concerned about the impact of constant phone-use on their children’s mental health.

“A blanket ban in high schools will create a level playing field, reduce distractions in classrooms, help address cyberbullying issues and improve student learning outcomes,” she said.

Aalia, a secondary high school student in Kingsgrove, said the move might ruffle feathers with some of her classmates at the start but that it would remove distractions from the classroom.

“I think some students might be a bit upset at first, but it will definitely cut down distractions in class,” she said.