Schools must be safe for everyone, says children’s commissioner

Ms Cifuentes also said the ongoing debate about the use of phones in schools was an issue she was aware of but that a “whole society approach” was needed.

A new report by the University of Birmingham suggested that a ban made very little difference in improving grades or mental wellbeing.

But it did suggest spending longer on phones and social media in general was linked to lower grades, poor sleep, disruptive behaviour and a lack of exercise.

“This is not just about what happens in schools,” said Ms Cifuentes.

“We have new rules coming in to place, through the Online Safety Act, which will place greater responsibility on social media companies to keep children more safe online, and parents and families have a role to play.

“We need not only to potentially restrict the use of phones, but also need to offer young people real alternatives and we need to be talking to children more as well.”