From Monday, June 29, schools in England will be legally required to ensure students do not have access to mobile phones or similar smart devices like smartwatches throughout the entire school day. This includes class time, breaks, and between lessons. Passive or relaxed policies are no longer permitted, and Ofsted inspectors will formally check that schools have a clear, consistently enforced mobile phone policy.
New Law Details and Enforcement
The law mandates a phone-free school environment but allows schools discretion in how to achieve it. Common methods include a total ban on phones on premises, students handing in devices at the start of the day, or keeping phones turned off. Schools can grant older students in years 12 and 13 access to phones in designated areas like a sixth-form common room, but they cannot use them in front of younger pupils. Exceptions are made for students who need phones to manage medical conditions such as diabetes.
Government and Ofsted Support
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated: "We have been clear that mobile phones have no place in our schools but now we’re going further through tougher guidance and stronger enforcement. Mobile phones have no place in schools. No ifs, no buts." She added that Attendance and Behaviour Hubs will support schools struggling to implement bans, alongside curriculum reforms to build digital literacy.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: "We are determined to ensure technology enriches children’s lives, not harms them - and to give every child the childhood they deserve."
His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, said: "My message to headteachers is you now have all the backing - and the backing of my inspectors - to ban mobile phones in schools immediately. They chip away at children’s attention span, distract from learning and can be detrimental to children’s wellbeing."
Parental Concerns and Research
New research from Uswitch reveals that half of parents expect their children to find workarounds to the new rules. A third predict greater demands on screen time at home. Nearly half of UK parents are unaware that hidden browsers and VPNs can bypass parental controls, while three in 10 parents with safety settings say their child has already found a way around them.
Uswitch has launched the free Safer Screens tool, offering device-specific, step-by-step guidance for families. Ernest Doku, Uswitch technology expert, said: "For schools without a plan in place already, the smartphone ban will make a difference during the school day – but the challenge for most families doesn't stop at 3pm. With the summer holidays just around the corner, children will be spending more time at home with their devices than ever, and that's where parents often feel least in control." He added: "Setting up parental controls is a good first step, but many parents don't realise that a hidden browser or VPN can bypass them entirely, and children often know this before their parents do."
