THE leader of a headteachers’ union called for an end to the “chaos” inflicted by social media today.

Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) president Manny Botwe warned that technology has a “darker side” and leaves a “trail of harm.”

He flagged concerns around bullying, anxiety and the spread of extremist ideologies.

Speaking at the union’s annual conference in Liverpool, Mr Botwe said that smartphones and social media are increasingly “being weaponised” against schools and teachers, with “disgruntled parents” using sites to target staff.

He concluded that it is time to bring social media platforms to “heel” and force them to “police their own spaces.”

While welcoming the 2023 Online Safety Act, Mr Bowte said that teachers “have yet to see its protections come into force and/or how effective they prove in practice.”

A survey by ASCL revealed that 73 per cent of secondary school teachers reported students experiencing bullying from peers on social media.

The poll, by the Teacher Tapp app, asked 6,409 teachers and school leaders last month what social media-related issues they had noticed since September.

Almost half (46 per cent) said that students had recorded teachers or other pupils without permission.

Thirty per cent noticed signs of students having accessed pornographic or violent content. 

Four in 10 primary and secondary school teachers said that parents had made negative comments about their school or staff online.

While many social media platforms require users to be at least 13 years of age to sign up, 71 per cent of teachers said they were aware of younger pupils using the platforms.

Speaking at the conference, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “We all know that phones are disruptive, distracting, bad for behaviour.

“They have no place in our schools, and the government’s position is clear — you have our full backing in ridding our classrooms of the disruption of phones.”

Mr Botwe also said that Ofsted’s planned changes for a  new report card system “feel like a kick in the teeth” and called on the government and Ofsted to “rethink” their consultation proposals.

Ms Phillipson said in her speech: “I know they spark debate, but that’s right where education should be — at the heart of our national conversation.

“That’s why we’re consulting on this, why Ofsted are consulting on their proposals to improve inspection.”