School tries to ban pupils from taking mobile phones on visit to war memorial

Staff at the school in Edinburgh insisted that phones had to be left at home because texting and social media would be too distracting for the youngsters on the sensitive visit.

But St Thomas of Aquin's was forced into a u-turn on the ban the following a backlash from parents who wanted to remain in contact with their children.

A group of 40 students aged between 14 to 18 will travel from the Catholic school to Belgium and France in June to visit battle sites, war graves and attend a memorial.

One battlefield tour guide revealed yesterday that some school pupils cannot resist taking selfies at war graves - but said attempting to ban mobiles altogether was the wrong strategy.

Dozens of parents attended a meeting at St Thomas's this week to discuss the trip and many were surprised to be told all mobiles were to be left behind in Edinburgh.

One, who asked not to be named, said: "They are not allowed them at all. The teachers were very clear that mobiles are so distracting because of Facebook and texting that the kids would miss out on the benefits of the trip.

"I suspect they are also worried about kids misbehaving with them - taking selfies at graves and sticking them online."

She added: "I think that's unfair to the kids because the ones who want to go on the trip know to how to behave and are interested in the war.

"I don't understand why they can't take them off them during the day and give them back at night."

Parents expressed concern that the ban would make it difficult to keep in touch - and could even compromise safety.

The parent said: "A teacher is going to Tweet what they're up to.

"But the kids are going to be allowed time on their own to go off in small groups without a teacher. You never know what could happen and if they've got a mobile they can try to get help.

"It would be nice if they could come home with photos from the trip but that's going to hard without a mobile."

The St Thomas trip will take place at a particularly sensitive time, just days after the 100th anniversary of the end of the Second Battle of Ypres.

It is estimated that 850,000 Allied and German soldiers lost their lives while fighting in the area. Of these, 325,000 were British casualties.

Genevra Charsley (corr), who runs the Ypres Battlefield Tour in Belgium, said there have been times where students acted inappropriately.

"I can understand why there may be some concerns, because there have been instances of students taking selfies in cemeteries which is incredibly disrespectful," she said.

"The soldiers died so that these people can live the lives they do today, which is something that needs to be remembered.

"However, there are other ways of making sure students behave rather than banning their phones.

"The pupils could be split into small groups with a teacher in charge who makes sure they act accordingly.

"When we take students on tours we ask them to turn their phones to silent, and anyone who misbehaves is strictly cautioned or even sent back to the coach."

Edinburgh Council initially claimed the ban was to stop mobiles being lost or stolen and to prevent students running up large bills while abroad.

But the head of the school, Tommy Hughes, later issued a statement confirming the climbdown.

He said: "I've discussed it with the staff concerned and pupils can take their phones with the consent of their parents."

St Thomas's is particularly sensitive about social media after a teacher ended up in the centre of a row in 2013.

Drama and guidance teacher Clare Kelly tweeted: "Born for better things...#work #cantbea**** #whens the next holiday" when she returned from the summer holidays.

She was singled out by rapper Professor Green who said that employing people like Ms Kelly was "one reason schools fail people".