Government to Enact Legal Ban on School Phones in England

The UK government has announced plans to introduce legislation that would legally prohibit smartphones in schools across England. During a statement to the House of Lords on Monday, Education Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith confirmed that the administration intends to table an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. This amendment aims to establish a definitive legal obligation for schools regarding phone usage.

According to the Department for Education (DfE), this legislative move is designed to provide "legal force to what schools are already doing in practice." Earlier this year, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson issued correspondence to educational institutions, urging them to adopt new guidelines that recommend keeping schools entirely phone-free throughout the day. By placing this guidance on a statutory footing, the government intends to make compliance mandatory for schools. Officials emphasize that this approach differs from the previous Conservative strategy, which advocated for an outright legal prohibition.

Laura Trott, the Conservative shadow education secretary, welcomed the development, describing the upcoming amendment as "fantastic news for headteachers, parents and pupils across the country." In a post on X, Trott criticized the Labour party’s previous stance, noting that for over a year they had dismissed the idea as an "unnecessary gimmick" and that the education minister had recently claimed the issue was already resolved. Trott added, "I'm glad they've now listened, this is the right step for improving behaviour and raising attainment in our classrooms."

Baroness Smith informed the House of Lords that the government had removed the specific "not seen, not heard" protocol—where phones must be switched off and stored in bags—from the recommended guidance. Instead, the government expressed openness to considering whether stricter measures should be implemented. While some institutions have already adopted solutions such as lockers or magnetically sealed pouches, the specific text of the government’s amendment has not yet been released.

Political reactions to the proposal have been varied. The Liberal Democrats stated that ministers must now "ensure all schools have the necessary support and funding to manage this transition." Caroline Voaden, the party’s schools spokesperson, claimed her party had achieved a "major win for pupils, teachers, and families" by pressuring the government into action. Meanwhile, Reform UK’s education spokesperson, Suella Braverman, argued that mobile phones are "fuelling distraction and undermining discipline" in educational settings. She contended that current guidance is insufficient and advocated for a "clear, enforceable ban to protect children."

A spokesperson for the Green Party expressed "deeply concerned" views regarding the potential negative impacts of phones, stressing that a "thorough consultation process" is essential to develop effective solutions for schools. The DfE reiterated its position that "mobile phones have no place in schools," noting that the majority of institutions already enforce prohibitions. A department spokesperson added that the amendment "builds on the steps we've already taken to strengthen enforcement" and highlighted that school mobile phone policies will be subject to monitoring during Ofsted inspections starting in April. The department described the Bill as "widely recognised as the biggest piece of child safeguarding legislation in decades."

The legislation faced delays as it moved between the House of Commons and the House of Lords, particularly after the Lords voted in February to support a Conservative amendment mandating a ban. Earlier this week, the House of Lords agreed to Baroness Barran’s proposal to include potential exemptions for sixth-form students, boarding school pupils, and individuals who rely on phones as medical devices.

Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, commented that the legal backing for the guidance "doesn't really change very much" since most schools already enforce their own restrictions. However, he emphasized the need for financial support, stating, "What would really be helpful is for the government to make funding available to schools for the safe and secure storage of mobile phones, such as storage lockers or locked pouches." He also called for

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-04-21 07:33:19 UTC