Phones banned in Edinburgh schools – but still no pouches to keep them in

A mobile phone ban in Edinburgh schools has come into force – despite pouches to secure the devices not being available yet.

Primary school pupils who have returned after the summer holidays will have to keep their phones in cabinets during the day, while secondary school pupils were previously told they would have to lock them in a magnetically-sealed pouch.

However, the council has now said the pouches will not be ready until next month at the earliest, as the new system is still being tested.

It said the ban was still in place and phones should be kept turned off and out of sight during the school day – including breaks – unless a pupil is exempt.

The council said guidance on exemptions and reasonable adjustments was still being finalised.

Edinburgh is one of the first councils in Scotland to bring in such widespread restrictions following trials in Portobello and Queensferry.

The new policy also covers smartwatches in both primary and secondary schools.