Headteachers and advocates urge for clearer guidelines on school smartphone restrictions

Educational leaders and campaigners are demanding greater precision regarding the execution of the government’s proposed legal prohibition on mobile phones in schools. Under a proposed amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, the government intends to modify existing legislation to impose a statutory duty on schools to adhere to guidance stating that campuses should be "mobile phone-free environments by default."

During a Commons session on Wednesday afternoon, Minister for Early Education Olivia Bailey asserted that the measures currently in place would guarantee the effective enforcement of phone bans. However, Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott, while accepting the principle of a statutory ban, sought clarification on whether policies that restrict phones to being "not seen, not heard" would remain permissible under the new rules. Trott argued that such approaches are ineffective.

Rob McGinty, headteacher at Hollingworth Academy in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, noted that while his institution currently employs a "no see, no hear" policy, he supports the complete removal of smartphones from school grounds. McGinty highlighted the need for specific operational details to better support staff and educators, noting that some students are likely to continue bringing devices to campus.

The academy has initiated a consultation with parents, staff, and pupils regarding the introduction of lockable pouches. These devices block phone signals, preventing notifications from reaching smartwatches, wireless earbuds, and headphones. McGinty acknowledged the realism that phones may still be switched on within blazers or bags, causing vibrations that distract students from their lessons. "They vibrate, they go off, then prompting a child to want to have a look and see what the alert is rather than focusing on the important thing - which is being in a lesson, focusing on what the teacher's saying and getting a really good education," he explained.

Legislative standoff

Earlier this year, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson encouraged schools to adopt new guidance recommending phone-free environments for the entire school day. The Conservative party had advocated for an outright legal ban via an amendment to the Bill. In response, the government stated it would elevate the guidance to a statutory footing, requiring schools to comply, though they argued this approach differs from the Conservatives' proposal.

The Bill is currently involved in parliamentary "ping-pong," shuttling between the House of Commons and the House of Lords to resolve disagreements on the final text. With the parliamentary session nearing its end, the government faces a tightening deadline to pass this key legislation, which also includes provisions for a register of children not in school and unique identification numbers for each child. The Bill is anticipated to return to the House of Lords early next week, leaving limited time for a final Commons vote before the session concludes.

Calls for stricter enforcement

Charlotte Ashton, representing the campaign group Generation Focus, echoed the sentiment that school leaders require more definitive direction. She cited data indicating that 80% of schools with smartphone bans utilize a "no see, no hear" policy, a method she describes as "simply ineffective."

Ashton argued that allowing students to retain possession of their devices is counterproductive, describing smartphones as "the world's most powerful distraction devices." She noted that students often use phones under desks or in restrooms, areas where teachers cannot monitor them. "Until we move explicitly to a ruling out of 'no see, no hear' for smartphones, we won't get the change that we need to protect our children during the school day," Ashton stated.

She proposed that the "gold standard" would involve permitting only basic "brick" phones, which allow for calling and texting but offer limited internet access, thereby removing the "distraction tool" aspect of modern smartphones.

Logistical challenges

Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), emphasized that school leaders are "best plac...

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-04-22 15:34:26 UTC