Education Minister James Merlino announced on Wednesday that all Victorian public school students would be banned from using their phones from next year in an effort to tackle cyberbullying and distraction in the classroom.

From term one 2020, students from prep to year 12 will have to switch off their phones and store them in lockers until the final bell.

Exceptions will only be granted to students who use their phones to monitor health conditions, or where teachers instruct students to bring their phone for a particular classroom activity.

In the case of an emergency, parents or guardians can reach their child by calling the school.

Murtoa College principal Tony Goodwin said while it was a great initiative from the Education Department, putting it into practice could be difficult.

"The initiative is very healthy and has merit - we've got to a stage where everything that has been tried hasn't had a positive impact on learning," he said.

"I firmly believe that if we can get the kids to put their phones out of sight and out of mind, we will have a healthy response."

Mr Goodwin said the issue was that mobile phones weren't the only piece of technology students had access to.

"Every kid in our school has access to a desktop computer, laptop or an iPad," he said.

"You can't tell me that what they do on their phones, they couldn't do on an iPad.

"In other, middle to upper class schools, kids might have a smart watch, so they can put their phone in a locker, but they still have their watch.

"It's a great idea, but there is going to be teething problems incorporating it into schools."

Mr Goodwin said the students won't like the ban at all.

"We have to remember that this generation has been brought up with their life on their phone," he said.

"It's connected to them 24/7 and to get them to lock it somewhere for a duration of time is going to be an education process in itself."

Nhill College principal Mark Zimmermann said the school already banned mobile phones during school hours.

"We acknowledged that students might need to access their phone after schools, especially if they are playing sport or travel on buses, so if they need to bring a device, we ask that they lock it in their locker during school hours and then can use it after school," he said.

"This prevents any issues with inappropriate use, use of cameras, texting and accessing sites.

"We've had this rule in place for quite a while."

Mr Zimmermann said the ban worked well for the school.

"Occasionally a phone will pop up, and we deal with that when it happens," he said.

"The students are comfortable with the rules."

Mr Zimmermann said there was a certain time and place for phones in schools.

"The exception might be if there is a classroom teacher that has an educational use for phones, then they will give notice and might allow supervised use for that period only," he said.

"However, that is the exception, not the rule."

Horsham's St Brigid's College captain Darcy Hogan said while the ban was a great idea for younger students, he didn't think it should extend to senior students.

"Kids at a young age don't need the distractions," he said.

"However, I believe that year 11 and year 12 students should be able to use mobiles for educational purposes, as a mobile phone is quick and easy for helping you with work or finding something online."