Do your homework if ‘back to school’ means a first phone for your child

What's the right handset for someone going to high school, what controls should be put in place - and will teachers even allow it? Here's the lowdown

Buying a mobile phone for someone starting secondary school is a minefield - and not just financially. Some parents will argue that no child of 11 needs a phone; others that it is essential. And with the vast choice of handsets and deals on offer - from pay as you go to contracts and sim-only - the choice is bewildering, with the cost of getting it wrong surprisingly high.

Below we list what we think are the best deals - with a word of warning before you get your wallet out. If you are planning to send your son or daughter to school with one of the latest smartphones, think again. Of the thousands of mobiles stolen every month, as many as two-thirds are taken from children aged 13-16. Buy your child the latest iPhone and the chances are they will no longer have it at the end of the first week.