The UK government has announced plans to introduce a statutory ban on mobile phones in schools in England, replacing existing non-binding guidance. The move comes as an amendment to the children’s wellbeing and schools bill, which is currently stalled in the House of Lords due to opposition from peers.
Education minister Jacqui Smith confirmed the decision in the Lords on Monday, stating that the government had listened to concerns and would table an amendment to place the existing guidance on a statutory footing. The government had previously argued that most schools already had voluntary bans in place, but conceded this was a pragmatic measure to ensure the bill’s passage.
The bill is considered one of the most significant child protection pieces of legislation in decades, including measures such as a compulsory register for children not in school and a crackdown on profiteering in children’s social care. However, the phone ban amendment has drawn mixed reactions, with school leaders noting that most schools already have policies restricting mobile phone use.
Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the statutory ban would not change much in practice, but called for government funding for secure phone storage. Research from the children’s commissioner found that 99.8% of primary schools and 90% of secondary schools already limit or restrict phone use during the school day.
The government has been criticised by opposition parties for initially resisting the ban. A Liberal Democrat spokesperson claimed credit for the policy, while a government spokesperson accused the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats of blocking broader child protection measures. The Department for Education emphasised that the amendment gives legal force to existing practices.
