TORY plans for a blanket ban on mobile phones in schools are an “unenforceable distraction that worsens issues faced by teachers,” unions said today.

At the Conservative Party conference in Manchester today, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan was due to set out government guidance banning students in England from using the devices during the school day.

NASUWT general secretary Dr Patrick Roach warned: “If the government introduces blanket bans that are unenforceable, this will make the behaviour crisis worse, not better.

“Teachers across the country would welcome more support around dealing with the problems caused by social media. But abusive use of mobile phones is not just confined to the classroom and we need to see better support for schools and families when problems arise.

“The government needs to focus on properly supporting the work of teachers and headteachers rather than announcements designed to detract attention from more than a decade of policy failure.”

A survey of NASUWT members recently found that teachers’ biggest concerns were verbal and physical abuse, while a separate government consultation exercise earlier this year concluded most schools already have policies in place to deal with problems related to mobile phone use.

National Education Union general secretary Daniel Kebede said: “The education secretary must acknowledge and address the challenge of teacher recruitment and retention, persistent real-terms funding cuts, the lack of mental health support both within and outside school, and the rising levels of child poverty.

“These are the issues school leaders are currently most concerned about and that will make a difference when helping students make positive choices and develop good learning habits.”

And head teachers’ union NAHT leader Paul Whiteman said the announcement could present a “big challenge” for schools.

He said: “We are not sure how it would work in practice and how it could be successfully implemented in a wide range of schools.”

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “The announcement of a ‘mobile phone ban’ is a policy which isn’t needed for something that isn’t a problem, timed for the Conservative Party conference in a desperate attempt to grab a headline.”

Downing Street said it will issue guidance to schools “to take immediate actions for leaders to do the right thing by their pupils and teachers.”