A Bushey headteacher says it is "disappointed" the Government has done a U-turn on a blanket ban of mobile phones in classrooms.

Former Education Secretary Gavin Williamson pushed for a ban on mobiles but his successor Nadim Zahawi is set to leave it for heads to decide whether phones can be used, the Mirror reports.

Mr Williamson said mobile phone use by pupils is "not just distracting but they can have a damaging effect on a pupil’s mental health and wellbeing".

This has been echoed by the head teacher at St Margaret's School in Bushey, Lara Péchard.

She said: "It is disappointing that the Government has chosen to avert a ban in schools, particularly in light of the increasing cases of mental illness in our young.

"We should be doing all we can to protect their wellbeing and reduce the health risks, many of which are clearly associated with excessive mobile phone use."

Watford Observer: St Margaret's School, BusheySt Margaret's School, Bushey

Ms Péchard, who operates a 'no mobile phones' policy at her independent and boarding girls' school, believes young people’s relationships with their mobile phones have "changed" as a result of the pandemic and "not for the better".

She added: Like many others, I have concerns about how we model good behaviour around phone usage, and I feel we have a duty of care to our young people to help them find a healthy balance.

"We have started to tackle this issue with staff and parents through training and pastoral webinars, and we are considering carefully how we encourage screen-free time and balance."

Watford Observer: Lara Pechard, head teacher at St Margaret'sLara Pechard, head teacher at St Margaret's

The Mirror reports rather than implementing a ban, updated Government guidance on improving discipline will leave it for heads to decide whether phones can be used in classrooms.

The U-turn was welcomed by Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, who said: "We are relieved to see that the Education Secretary clearly doesn’t share his predecessor’s obsession with the use of mobile phones in classrooms.

"He appears to have accepted what we told Gavin Williamson at the time, namely that schools and colleges already have rigorous policies in place on mobile phone use and should be left to get on with the job at hand."