Demand for Guidance on Proposed School Smartphone Prohibition

Educational leaders and advocacy groups are urging the government to provide clearer instructions on the implementation of its proposed statutory ban on smartphones within schools. Under a proposed amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, the government intends to modify existing legislation to place a legal duty on schools to adhere to guidance stating that educational institutions should be "mobile phone-free environments by default."

During a Commons session on Wednesday afternoon, Early Education Minister Olivia Bailey asserted that the measures currently in place would guarantee effective prohibitions on phone use. However, Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott, while welcoming the move toward a statutory ban, sought clarification on whether policies restricting phone visibility and audibility were permissible. Trott explicitly stated that such "not seen, not heard" approaches are ineffective.

Rob McGinty, headteacher at Hollingworth Academy in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, noted that his institution currently employs a "no see, no hear" policy but expressed support for a total removal of smartphones. McGinty highlighted the need for more granular details to better support staff, noting that some students will inevitably bring devices to campus. "As far as a ban is concerned, I think we need more details around what that looks like in order to support schools and teachers better," he explained.

To combat distractions, Hollingworth Academy has initiated a consultation with parents, staff, and pupils regarding the use of lockable pouches. These devices block phone signals, preventing notifications from reaching smartwatches or wireless headphones. McGinty acknowledged the practical challenges, stating, "No one's naive enough to think that mobile phones won't be going off in a blazer or trouser pocket, or even in school bags." He emphasized that even vibrations prompt students to check alerts, detracting from their focus on lessons and education.

The legislative path for this measure has been contentious. Earlier this year, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson encouraged schools to adopt phone-free policies for the entire day. While the Conservatives pushed for an outright legal ban, the government argues that placing the guidance on a statutory footing—requiring schools to pay attention to it—is distinct from the Tory position. The Bill is currently navigating parliamentary "ping-pong," moving between the House of Commons and the House of Lords to resolve wording disagreements.

With the parliamentary session nearing its end, the government faces time constraints to pass the legislation, which also includes provisions for a register of children not in school and unique identifying numbers for pupils. The Bill is anticipated to return to the House of Lords early next week, leaving limited opportunity for a final Commons vote.

Charlotte Ashton, representing the campaign group Generation Focus, echoed calls for more definitive direction for headteachers. She revealed that 80% of schools with bans utilize "no see, no hear" policies, a method she deems "simply ineffective." Ashton argued that allowing children to retain possession of their smartphones fails to address the issue, as devices remain "the world's most powerful distraction tools" used in unsupervised areas like toilets and under desks. "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," she said.

Ashton proposed that the "gold standard" would be allowing only basic "brick" phones, which offer limited internet access and serve primarily for calls and texts, thereby removing the device as a distraction. Meanwhile, Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), described the logistical challenges involved in such a significant undertaking.

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