Government to Introduce Legal Requirement for England Schools to Ban Smartphones
The government intends to introduce a legal prohibition on smartphones within schools across England. Education minister Baroness Jacqui Smith informed the House of Lords on Monday that an amendment would be tabled to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, establishing a "clear legal requirement for schools" regarding mobile phone use.
The Department for Education (DfE) stated this measure would provide "legal force to what schools are already doing in practice". Earlier in the year, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson had written to schools, advocating for phone-free policies throughout the entire school day. The government plans to place this guidance on a statutory footing, necessitating schools' adherence.
Conservative shadow education secretary Laura Trott welcomed the forthcoming amendment, characterising it as "fantastic news for headteachers, parents and pupils across the country". Trott criticised the government's previous position, claiming they had initially dismissed the idea. Baroness Smith indicated a willingness to strengthen the guidance further, beyond the current "not seen, not heard" option for phones.
While some schools currently employ lockers or sealed pouches for phone storage, the precise details of the government's amendment remain undisclosed. The Liberal Democrats called for adequate support and funding to facilitate this transition, while Reform UK's education spokesperson, Suella Braverman, argued that existing guidance was insufficient and a "clear, enforceable ban" was essential. A Green Party spokesperson voiced concerns over potential harms from phones and stressed the need for a "thorough consultation process".
The DfE reiterated its consistent stance that "mobile phones have no place in schools", noting that most institutions already prohibit them. School mobile phone policies are set to be monitored during Ofsted inspections from April. The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, widely recognised as significant child safeguarding legislation, had faced parliamentary scrutiny, with the House of Lords previously voting for a phone ban in February.
The head of the Association of School and College Leaders, Pepe Di'Iasio, suggested the legal backing for existing guidance would not substantially alter current practices. He called for government funding for secure phone storage and "much tougher regulatory action" against harm from social media and excessive smartphone use outside of school hours. Approaches to school phone policies vary across the UK, reflecting devolved education responsibilities in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
