Mobile phones have been banned at 44 schools in England over concerns for pupil’s health and learning. A national academy chain is thought to be the first of its kind to impose a blanket mobile phone ban for a total of 35,000 pupils.

A school which has banned students from bringing mobile phones onto its two campuses said it has already seen "a significant uplift in standards". The Ark Alexandra Academy in Hastings, East Sussex, introduced the ban at the start of the autumn term,

Mike Morath made the recommendation as concerns rise that phones are harmful to students’ mental health and distract them from learning.

A high school in New Jersey is beginning to implement its "away for the day" policy, which bans call phones in the classroom. FOX 5 NY's Richard Giacovas gets reaction from students and parents.

Plans to potentially ban pupils from carrying phones during school hours have sparked a debate among Northern Echo readers.

With the new school year comes renewed debate over the use of cell phones in the classroom. Among New York parents of school-age children, 77-percent support barring cell phone use in schools during the day,