Why one school has banned phones for some pupils - but not others

Why one school has banned phones for some pupils - but not others2 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleBethan Lewis,Wales family and education correspondentandSiwan Richards,BBC WalesBBCLily (left) can use her phone during break times, but her younger sister Ruby (right) has to lock her device awayThey eat in a separate dining area and play on a different yard, but there's another difference between Islwyn High School's year seven pupils and the rest of the school - they're not allowed to use their phones.The policy means some siblings fall under different rules, with Lily, 13, saying to younger sister Ruby: "I think you feel a little bit jealous of me."Ruby is quite philosophical about it, describing it as "a bit unfair", but adding: "It didn't really bother me because I wasn't allowed to use it in primary school."The secondary school in Caerphilly county has been running a pilot where the youngest year group put their phones into sealed pouches during the day, but older students are still allowed their devices at break times.BBC Wales asked all of Wales' secondary and all-age schools about their phone policies for years seven to 11. The Welsh government has announced a national survey on phone use.There has been a mixed reaction among pupils.If the ban was introduced for everyone, Lily said she would be "a bit upset", explaining: "It would just feel really weird to spring it on us now."Luke, dad of year seven pupil Evan, said the pilot was a "fantastic idea", adding he wasn't worried about not being able to contact his son directly during school time."It wasn't a problem for me when I was younger," he said."You just ring the office, so I don't think it's a massive problem."The school was one of almost one hundred - nearly half of Wales' secondary schools - which responded to BBC Wales' questions on phone policies.Most...