The UK government has announced plans to introduce a statutory ban on mobile phones in schools in England, amending the children’s wellbeing and schools bill. Education minister Jacqui Smith confirmed the move in the House of Lords on Monday, stating that the government would table an amendment to place existing guidance on a legal footing. The decision comes after opposition peers blocked the bill, which ministers described as a critical piece of child protection legislation.
Until now, the government had argued that most schools already banned phones voluntarily and that no legal requirement was needed. However, Smith acknowledged the strength of feeling on the issue, saying, “We’ve listened to concerns about how we support headteachers in delivering on this policy and we have listened to parliament.” The amendment will create a clear legal requirement for schools to prohibit mobile phone use during the school day.
The children’s wellbeing and schools bill is considered one of the most significant child protection measures in decades. It also includes provisions for a compulsory register of children not in school, a crackdown on profiteering in children’s social care, and a single unique identifier to track child welfare. Research from the children’s commissioner for England last year found that 99.8% of primary schools and 90% of secondary schools already limited or restricted 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, as most schools already have policies in place. He called for government funding for secure phone storage, such as lockers or pouches. Meanwhile, a Liberal Democrat spokesperson claimed credit for the move, saying they had “dragged the government kicking and screaming” to adopt the ban and urged ministers to ensure schools have support and funding for implementation.
A government spokesperson criticised opposition parties for delaying the bill, accusing Conservatives and Liberal Democrats of “a dismal failure” on child safeguarding. The Department for Education reiterated that the amendment simply gives legal force to what most schools already do, stating, “We have been consistently clear that mobile phones have no place in schools.”
