Government to Enact Legal Ban on School Phones in England

The UK government has announced plans to introduce legislation that legally prohibits the use of smartphones in schools across England. On Monday, Education Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith informed the House of Lords that the administration intends to table an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. This amendment aims to establish a clear statutory obligation for schools regarding the issue.

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 letters to schools, urging them to adhere to new guidance recommending that schools remain entirely phone-free throughout the day. The government intends to place this guidance on a statutory footing, thereby making it mandatory for schools to comply. Officials have clarified that this approach differs from the outright legal ban previously advocated by the Conservative party.

Reaction from the opposition has been mixed but generally positive regarding the direction of the policy. Conservative shadow education secretary Laura Trott described the upcoming amendment as "fantastic news for headteachers, parents and pupils across the country." Writing on X, Trott criticized the Labour party’s previous stance, noting that for over a year, Labour had dismissed the idea as an "unnecessary gimmick," with the education minister claiming just last week that the issue had already been resolved. Trott added, "I'm glad they've now listened, this is the right step for improving behaviour and raising attainment in our classrooms."

During her address to the House of Lords, Baroness Smith revealed that the government had removed the specific "not seen, not heard" protocol—which requires phones to be switched off and stored in bags—from the recommended options for schools. Instead, the government expressed willingness to consider strengthening the regulations further. While some institutions have already implemented measures such as lockers or magnetically sealed pouches for device storage, the specific details of the government's amendment have not yet been released.

Other political parties have also weighed in on the development. The Liberal Democrats emphasized that ministers must now "ensure all schools have the necessary support and funding to manage this transition." Schools spokesperson Caroline Voaden claimed her party had secured a "major win for pupils, teachers, and families" by successfully pressuring the government toward a ban. Meanwhile, Reform UK education spokesperson Suella Braverman argued that phones are "fuelling distraction and undermining discipline" in classrooms. Braverman stated that existing guidance was insufficient and that a "clear, enforceable ban to protect children is the right thing to do."

The Green Party expressed deep concern regarding the potential harms associated with mobile phones. A spokesperson noted that a "thorough consultation process" would be essential to developing "effective solutions" for schools.

In response, a DfE spokesperson reiterated that the department has "consistently clear[ed] that mobile phones have no place in schools," noting that the majority of institutions already prohibit their use. The spokesperson added that the amendment "builds on the steps we've already taken to strengthen enforcement." Furthermore, the department confirmed that school mobile phone policies will come under scrutiny during Ofsted inspections starting in April. The Bill is being hailed as "the biggest piece of child safeguarding legislation in decades," with the government stating it will "always put children's interests first."

The legislation had previously stalled between the House of Commons and the Lords after the latter passed a Conservative amendment in February calling for a ban. Earlier this week, the House of Lords agreed to an amendment proposed by shadow education minister Baroness Barran, which allows for 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, suggested that the legal backing for the guidance "doesn't really change very much," as most schools already enforce their own restrictions. However, he highlighted the need for practical 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