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ESF follows British lead and bans mobile phones

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The English Schools Foundation has imposed strict controls on mobile phones following growing concern in Britain about their use for cheating in exams.

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From this year, students sitting General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) and A-level examinations are banned from taking mobile phones into examination halls, in line with rules issued by Britain's Joint Council for General Qualifications.

Chris Durbin, the ESF's education development adviser (secondary), said: 'If any student is found with a phone inside the examination hall they are reported to the exam authority.'

Last year, about 1,100 students taking British exams were penalised for malpractices involving mobile phones, accounting for much of the 27 per cent rise in cheating cases, according to Britain's Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.

Overall, about 4,500 students were penalised.

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Mr Durbin said there were no cases among ESF students.

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