Should mobile phones be banned from classrooms?

But some teaching unions and trusts have argued that smartphone devices have now become an essential part of learning.

Mr Gibb said: "Many schools have already taken the decision to ban mobile phones from the classroom.

"While this is clearly a matter for the head teacher, my own view is that schools should ban their pupils from bringing smartphones into school or the classroom.

"Children should not be spending hours and hours on their smartphones or iPads.

"There are obviously huge benefits to the internet and there's nothing intrinsically damaging about spending time online

"But if the time children spend using social media or playing computer games becomes excessive, it drives out time for them to talk to their parents, exercise, do their homework or play with friends.