Education minister, Gillian Keegan, is set to announce a ban on mobile phones in schools today (October 2).

Head teachers in England will be told to ban pupils from using mobile phones at all during the school day, under plans to be announced at the Conservative Party conference, as reported by the BBC.

The Government already encourages head teachers to limit the use of mobile phones and most schools have restrictions in place.

The new crackdown will prevent pupils from using their phones during breaktimes and at lunchtime.

Ms Keegan will say mobile phones are a distraction from schoolwork and are often used for bullying.

The new guidelines will allow pupils to take phones to school to use on the journeys there and back.

Some schools already insist children hand in their phones at the start of the school day, while others say phones should be left in lockers all day. Other schools allow students to keep their phones in their bags to use at breaktimes and lunchtime.

It's not yet known when the new guidance will be issued, but it is expected 'shortly'.