Legislative Ban on School Phones Proposed for England

The UK government has announced plans to enact a statutory prohibition on smartphones within English schools. On Monday, Education Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith informed the House of Lords that the administration intends to introduce an amendment to the significant Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. This amendment would establish a definitive legal obligation for educational institutions regarding mobile device usage.

According to the Department for Education (DfE), this legislative shift aims to provide "legal force to what schools are already doing in practice." Earlier this year, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson had circulated new guidance to schools, recommending they remain completely phone-free throughout the school day. The government now intends to place this guidance on a statutory footing, thereby making compliance mandatory. Officials emphasize that this approach differs from the Conservatives’ previous advocacy for an outright legal prohibition.

Conservative shadow education secretary Laura Trott welcomed the development, describing the amendment—set to be presented in the coming days—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 such measures as an "unnecessary gimmick" and claimed just last week that the issue had already been resolved. "I'm glad they've now listened, this is the right step for improving behaviour and raising attainment in our classrooms," she stated.

During her address to the House of Lords, Baroness Smith revealed that the government had removed the specific "not seen, not heard" protocol—which mandates that phones be switched off and stored in bags—from the guidance as a prescribed option. Instead, ministers expressed openness to considering stricter measures. Some institutions have already implemented solutions such as lockers or magnetically sealed pouches for device storage. As of now, the specific text of the government’s amendment has not been released.

Political reactions from other parties highlighted various concerns. The Liberal Democrats urged ministers to guarantee that schools receive adequate support and funding to navigate this transition. Schools spokesperson Caroline Voaden claimed her party had secured a "major win for pupils, teachers, and families" by pressuring the government toward a ban. Meanwhile, Reform UK education spokesperson Suella Braverman argued that phones are "fuelling distraction and undermining discipline." She contended that current guidance is insufficient and that a "clear, enforceable ban to protect children is the right thing to do."

A spokesperson for the Green Party expressed "deeply concerned" views regarding the potential harms associated with mobile phones, emphasizing that a "thorough consultation process" is essential for developing "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 such prohibitions. A department spokesperson stated that the amendment "builds on the steps we've already taken to strengthen enforcement" and confirmed that schools’ mobile phone policies will be scrutinized during Ofsted inspections beginning in April. The department described the Bill as "widely recognised as the biggest piece of child safeguarding legislation in decades," asserting that it prioritizes children's interests.

The legislation faced delays after being passed back and forth between the House of Commons and the Lords. In February, the Lords approved a Conservative amendment calling for a ban. Earlier this week, the House of Lords accepted a suggestion from shadow education minister Baroness Barran to include potential exemptions for sixth-form students, those in boarding schools, and pupils who rely on phones as medical devices.

Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, remarked that the legal backing for the guidance "doesn't really change very much," as most schools already enforce their own bans. He argued that more impactful support would be financial assistance for secure storage solutions, such as lockers or locked pouches.

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