Pupils at state schools in Edinburgh will be banned from using their mobile phones during the school day from August.
Secondary pupils will have to put their device in a magnetic, lockable pouch when they arrive at school, which they will keep with them and unlock when they leave.
Primary school pupils will have to place their mobile phones in cabinets which will be locked.
Senior leadership teams at secondary schools will be allowed to develop their own guidance on whether S5-S6 pupils can use their mobile phones during break, at lunchtime and in independent study time.
The uniform introduction of lockable pouches in all our secondary schools will level the playing field for all learners in Edinburgh
City of Edinburgh councillors approved the “bell to bell” ban which has been hailed as a “monumental step” for the city’s children and young people.
It comes after a consultation on mobile phone restrictions earlier this year found that 97% of secondary school staff and 94% of parents/carers were in favour of a ban.
More than half (53%) of young people supported restrictions during teaching time according to the survey, which received almost 14,000 responses from pupils, parents/carers, and school staff.
James Dalgleish, the council’s Education, Children and Families convener, said: “This is a monumental step for Edinburgh’s children and young people and I am proud that we are one of the first local authorities in the country to introduce widespread restrictions on mobile phones in schools.
“I’ve been clear from the start that we wanted to be bold in our ambition to make our schools phone-free environments that enable our teachers to teach and pupils to learn without the distraction of devices in the classroom.
“The uniform introduction of lockable pouches in all our secondary schools will level the playing field for all learners in Edinburgh, streamlining a phone-free schools policy and guaranteeing that every single young person can get the most out of their time in the classroom.”
Trials of the lockable pouches have been underway at Portobello and Queensferry High Schools since last year.
Mr Dalgleish said: “We know from the two pilots already underway that keeping phones out of the classroom is positive and alongside our consultation showing broad support from teachers, school staff and parents/carers, I am confident that these restrictions will be warmly welcomed and hugely impactful.”
A £400,000 one-off budget for buying storage cabinets and lockable pouches was agreed at the council’s annual budget setting meeting in February.
The council said that it will develop guidance for schools, including how exemptions will work in practice.
Special consideration will be given for pupils who may need access to their mobile phone during the school day due to caring responsibilities or health needs.