Mobile phones in schools (England)

Use of mobile phones by children in schools, and whether they should be prohibited, has been a subject of regular debate in recent years. This short briefing provides an overview of the current legal position, recent discussion in parliament, and introduces some relevant research.

Schools policy is a devolved matter, and this briefing focuses on debate in England, but an overview is included of the position in the other countries of the UK.

Current position in England

There is no statute or regulation prohibiting the use of mobile phones in schools in England, and schools have always been able to prohibit mobile phone use as part of their behaviour policies.

In February 2024, the Department for Education published non-statutory guidance that said schools should develop a mobile phone policy that prohibits the use of mobile phones and other smart technology with similar functionality during the school day, including at break times.

While the guidance on mobile phones in schools is not statutory, the government expects schools to prohibit the use of mobiles as part of their behaviour policies.

Schools may develop their own policies to implement this rule. The guidance suggests the following systems that could be adopted:

• No mobile phones allowed on the school premises
• Mobile phones handed in on arrival
• Mobile phones kept in secure location, which pupils do not access throughout the school day
• Pupils may keep their phones but they are “never used, seen or heard”

Schools may adapt their policies where necessary for the needs or circumstances of specific pupils.

Education Committee report (2024)

Shortly before the dissolution of parliament for the 2024 general election, the House of Commons Education Committee published a report, Screen time: impacts on education and wellbeing, which said “it is clear that a ban can have a positive impact on the mental health and educational outcomes of children.”

The committee recommended that if the new guidance had not proven effective in twelve months, a statutory ban on phones in schools should be implemented.

The government has not yet responded to the committee’s report.