The use of mobile phones in schools has been under the microscope, with a new policy governing student use of digital devices and online services applying in all NSW public schools from 2020.

The new policy includes the digital device restriction for primary schools announced by the NSW Government in December 2018.

Under the new policy, secondary schools retain discretion to opt into the restriction or implement the approach that best suits their circumstances.

Principal of Bathurst High School Ken Barwick, said the school's current procedure was introduced in 2019, which sees students have their phones switched off and out of sight during all learning times. Students are allowed to access them at lunch and recess.

He said students caught disobeying the rules had their phones taken from them, taken to the front office for their parents to collect.

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He said the students know the rules, and they break them, their phone is gone.

The procedure also aligns with the school's discipline procedures, any student caught repeatedly breaking the rules faces a short term suspension.

Mr Barwick said the procedure had virtually 100 per cent parent support, and like all procedures was constantly under review.

He said in today's world students need to be tech savvy and part of that was mobile phone and tablet use.

"You have to take stock of what we are here to do, and that is to educate children, which involves the use of technology.

"You can't stick your head in the sand; this is about implementing guidelines so the technology can be used in a more positive manner," he said.

He also said students who needed their phones for good reason, for example, medical apps which check sugar levels or those with vision impairment who use their phones to magnify resources, were exempt from the procedure.

Since the procedure was introduced, Mr Barwick said the number of phones confiscated by teachers has dropped dramatically, and 12 months on, is now just one a week.