Lure of smartphones

SIR – We welcome The Telegraph’s Duty of Care campaign, which has highlighted the effect of new technology and social media on young people’s lives.

One big impact of new technology has been the distracting effect of smartphones on children at school. In 2015 a study by academics at the London School of Economics found clear evidence that banning mobile phones from schools has a beneficial effect on pupils’ ability to learn.

Where schools banned smartphones from the premises, or required them to be handed in at the start of the day, pupils’ chances of getting five good GCSES increased by an average of two per cent. The improvement was even more marked for lower-achieving pupils. Results among pupils in the bottom quarter of achievement improved twice as much as the average.

At present, many school leaders are uncertain how to respond to growing pressure to allow mobile phones in class. We believe it is time for the Department for Education to give clear guidance to schools about the evidence on attainment, and for schools to get mobile phones out of the classroom.

Neil O’brien MP (Con)

Lee Rowley MP (Con)

Bim Afolami MP (Con)

Julia Lopez MP (Con)

Simon Clarke MP (Con)

Alex Burghart MP (Con) Gillian Keegan MP (Con)