A SCHOOL has introduced new technology to prevent students from social media distractions after usage was getting out of control.

Headteacher Julia Polley at Wensleydale School and Sixth Form College, in Leyburn, was fed up of pupils spending more time hooked to their phones than concentrating on their lessons, so has planned to install equipment which blocks mobile data signals within the school.

Some phone jamming equipment works by transmitting signals on the frequencies at which GSM operations are conducted, making it impossible for a handset located within their range of action to make or receive calls and messages.

Often targeted for use in such areas as theatres, cinemas, and libraries where the use of mobile phones can prove annoying – but some jammers can affect wider areas and other frequencies than those they are intended for. They can also result in the disruption of emergency and rescue radio services in the public area.

However, it is understood the technology to be used at Wensleydale School is highly site specific, with the ability to isolate individual classrooms.

The extreme measure, which are not believed to have been implemented at any other schools in the region, has been adopted after a serious fall-out between a group of Year 11 girls.

North Yorkshire County Council said it was not aware of any other schools trying such methods to control internet usage, but said it was down to individual headteachers to decide to do.

The headteacher has also asked for parents to monitor students' mobile phone usage while at home in a bid to stop potential cyber bullying.

Mrs Polley said students were using their phones to make inappropriate posts on Facebook, and send texts and other media messages when they should be concentrating on their lessons.

She said this had resulted in some pupils being more interested in other people’s arguments and gossiping than their studies.

She said she had spoken to students and hoped the online arguments would stop now the measures were in place.

She added in a letter to parents: “This week I have spent many hours talking to individual students about their part in a social media ‘campaign’ and friendship fall-out which occurred over the Christmas period and has continued into school. This simply must not continue.

“I have now invested in some technology which will block 4G signals on the school site and I have improved the filters on the wi-fi to further restrict some sites.”

The head said she would expel pupils if the fall-outs persisted.

She added: “Ultimately, all students need to be able to come into school feeling supported and safe and be able to concentrate on the next 13 weeks of study and revision.

“I will take much stronger exclusion action on any further unnecessary ‘social’ fall-outs which impact on school life and ask you to support us by monitoring mobile phone usage at home.”