Children are set to face a mobile phone ban in schools as the government introduces new legislation. The move aims to make existing recommendations on phone use in schools legally binding by amending the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill in the House of Lords.
Currently, the Department for Education advises school leaders to prohibit students from using mobile phones on school premises, although this guidance is not mandatory. Research suggests that students can take up to 20 minutes to regain focus on learning after being distracted by non-academic phone notifications.
In response to concerns about mobile phone use, a Conservative amendment was passed in the House of Lords, voting 276 to 169 to prohibit students from using smartphones during the school day. This amendment is now awaiting approval from MPs.
Acknowledging the need for clarity and support for school leaders, the Skills minister Baroness Smith of Malvern emphasized the importance of listening to concerns raised by headteachers and Parliament. The headteachers’ union NAHT welcomed the move to enforce the ban and urged the government to assist schools in implementing it effectively.
General Secretary Paul Whiteman highlighted that statutory guidance would provide clear directives for school leaders to enforce a ban consistently across all schools, ensuring no ambiguity in smartphone policies. He emphasized the importance of government support for schools to implement and enforce the ban successfully, allowing time for communication with parents and pupils where necessary.
Teaching union NASUWT also expressed support for the statutory ban on school phones. Additionally, the Association of School and College Leaders called for funding to provide equipment like storage lockers or locked pouches to secure pupils’ phones during school hours. Recent surveys indicate that the majority of schools already have policies restricting phone use in place, underlining the widespread support for such measures.