THE head of Britain’s largest education union has backed a statutory ban on mobile phones in schools.

National Education Union (NEU) general secretary Daniel Kebede warned today that access to extreme pornography on phones is “incredibly damaging” to young boys.

He said that the country “should look towards Australia” where the Senate has passed a social media ban for children under 16, adding: “My personal view is I would support a statutory ban on mobile phones in schools.

“I think it would alleviate pressure from school leaders, teachers, but also parents.”

The NEU leader called for social media companies to be regulated in a similar way to tobacco companies due to their harm to children’s mental health.

Schools in England were given non-statutory guidance intended to stop the use of phones during the school day by the previous Tory government.

Children’s commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said today that banning mobile phones should be a headteacher’s choice rather than “a direction imposed nationally by the government” after a survey suggested most schools already restrict use of mobile phones.

It also found that nearly a quarter of children spend more than four hours a day on an internet-enabled device.

But Mr Kebede believes the Labour government should take a stronger stance, warning that a national conversation about mobile phone use, online harm and the “damaging impact” it has on young people is much needed.

NEU deputy general secretary David Wilson added: “The issue of misogyny in schools is a grave concern to members and a growing concern over the last few years.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said last week there was no “simple solution” to stop boys from being dragged into a “whirlpool” of misogyny after the television drama Adolescence prompted a debate about online safety.

A government source said that “ramping up monitoring” will ensure “every school, and every classroom, is phone free, delivering on our Plan for Change to give our children the best education.”

The NEU’s annual conference in Harrogate in Yorkshire next week will debate men’s violence against women and girls.

A motion calls on the union to do even more work to challenge sexism, sexual harassment and misogyny.