A BOROUGH headteacher, concerned by the potential for bullies to use mobile phones to ring pupils in the classroom, is urging parents to tell their children to switch them off during the day.

Hilary Jackson, headteacher at Testbourne Community School, Whitchurch, used the latest school newsletter to make a plea to parents to support her stand on mobile phones.

Pupils are allowed to carry mobile phones around the school but Mrs Jackson believes their use can disturb learning and wants to "nip in the bud" any other potentially damaging uses.

Mrs Jackson lists phones going off and pupils causing unnecessary alarm by ringing a parent about minor issues as examples of inappropriate use of mobile phones.

She told The Gazette: "There was a point where schools said 'no mobiles' but this is not realistic. Parents want to know their children are okay on the way home.

"There is a time and place for mobile phones. They become a nuisance when they are used in lessons. We want to bring this to the attention of parents and make a point of it. It is important they are not used in the school day as they can disturb learning."

Possible bullying through the use of mobile phones is an issue the headteacher wants to address.

She explained: "We don't have a particular problem but it is another way that they can be used and we want to nip this in the bud before it becomes a problem."

l Testbourne school is celebrating two recent award wins after gaining a national Sportsmark award for the second time and a School Achievement Award.

The Sportsmark is presented to schools which offer a range of opportunities to students and enable young people to move from school sport to sport in the community.

An achievement award is a cash prize given to schools that have substantially improved their results over the past three years or during the last year, compared with other schools.

Mrs Jackson praised staff for their achievements, saying many gave up their own time after school to help run different sports clubs.