Phones to be banned in schools by law in England, government says

The UK government has announced plans to introduce a legal prohibition on smartphones in schools across England. Education Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith revealed this during a session in the House of Lords, stating the government would propose an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. This amendment aims to establish a definitive legal obligation for schools to implement smartphone restrictions.

The Department for Education (DfE) emphasized that the measure would provide “legal force to what schools are already doing in practice.” In January, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson had sent letters to schools, urging them to adopt new guidelines that promote phone-free environments throughout the school day.

Political Responses

Conservative shadow education secretary Laura Trott hailed the amendment as “fantastic news for headteachers, parents and pupils.” She noted that Labour had previously dismissed the idea, with the education minister claiming the issue was resolved just weeks prior. “I’m glad they’ve now listened,” she said, highlighting the move as beneficial for classroom behavior and academic performance.

“Ministers must ensure all schools have the necessary support and funding to manage this transition,” stated Caroline Voaden, a Liberal Democrat schools spokesperson. She praised the government for “dragging the minister” toward the ban, calling it a major victory for students, educators, and families.

The DfE reiterated that it has long maintained that “mobile phones have no place in schools,” with most institutions already enforcing their own restrictions. A spokesperson added that the amendment strengthens enforcement efforts, with school policies now subject to Ofsted inspections starting in April.

Despite the legal push, Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, argued that a statutory ban “doesn’t really change very much” since most schools already restrict phone use. He called for additional funding to support secure storage solutions, like lockers or pouches, and urged stricter regulations on social media’s impact beyond school hours.

Regional Variations

Education policies differ across the UK due to devolved responsibilities. Scotland introduced guidance allowing headteachers to implement phone bans in 2024, while Wales lacks a national rule but permits individual school decisions. In Northern Ireland, a pilot scheme testing phone-free zones in nine schools has concluded, with a final report expected in June.

Additional reporting by Branwen Jeffreys and Kate McGough