The UK government has announced plans to introduce a legal ban on smartphones in schools across England, marking a significant shift in education policy aimed at formalising existing restrictions already widely implemented by institutions. The move will be introduced through an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, according to the Department for Education.
Education Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith informed the House of Lords that the proposed amendment will create a statutory requirement for schools to enforce smartphone restrictions. The government said the change is intended to give “legal force” to current practices, which already see most schools limiting or fully banning phone use during school hours.
Under the new framework, schools in England would be legally obliged to maintain a phone-free environment during the school day. The government has indicated that this step is designed to standardise policies across the country, ensuring consistency in how mobile phone usage is handled in classrooms and school premises. While the policy has broad support, lawmakers have also discussed possible exemptions. The House of Lords approved a proposal suggesting exceptions for sixth form students in boarding schools and for pupils who require smartphones for medical reasons, ensuring that the rules remain flexible in specific circumstances.
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Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has previously encouraged headteachers to maintain phone-free schools, although her guidance until now has not been legally binding. The proposed amendment would elevate this guidance into statutory law, strengthening enforcement and reducing ambiguity for schools managing student behaviour and parental concerns.
A recent study by the children’s commissioner for England found that nearly all primary schools and a large majority of secondary schools already restrict or ban smartphone use during school hours. Education officials and school leaders, including the National Association of Head Teachers, have welcomed the move, stating that a clear legal framework will help ensure uniform implementation and remove uncertainty in school-level policy decisions.
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