The University College London (UCL) report published on Tuesday warns that school smartphone bans are 'overly simplistic' and are not supported by young people, who regard them as 'punitive' rather than helpful. The study was released the day after a statutory ban on smartphones in schools in England came into force, making schools legally responsible for being phone-free throughout the day.
Generational divide over phone bans
The research questioned 732 secondary school students aged 11 to 18, as well as 27 teachers and 41 parents, using questionnaires, interviews and focus groups. While 87% of teachers and 88% of parents favoured a blanket ban, 75% of pupils disagreed with the policy. The report states: 'Adults feel the bans will alleviate disruptions and simplify classroom management, whereas pupils experience smartphones as supporting communication, safety, emotional regulation and everyday organisation.'
Students cite essential tools and safety
Students said banning smartphones restricted access to 'essential' tools such as bus timetables, weather forecasts and homework apps. They valued direct access to support networks, and girls in particular said smartphones helped them feel safer when travelling alone. Students also warned that bans could drive issues like cyberbullying and sexual harassment underground, making pupils less likely to report concerns to adults.
Varied school policies and expert concerns
Schools in England have different policies: some allow phones but require them in lockers or sealed pouches, others permit only limited 'brick' phones, and some ban phones entirely from premises. Lead author Professor Jessica Ringrose of UCL Institute of Education said: 'The students we spoke to perceived blanket bans as punitive, rather than supportive. They felt bans undermined trust between them and the adults in their lives, who they felt misunderstood the integral role phones play in their day-to-day routine.'
Co-author Dawn Aytoun from Life Lessons Education said: 'Schools should encourage students to learn, understand and discuss the ethical, relational and political dimensions of the digital world, as well as the economic models that guide tech companies.' PhD candidate Edith Rodda added: 'Rushed school smartphone policies that don’t consider students’ perspectives, however well intentioned, risk creating a cycle of punishment that ultimately undermines the policy’s aims. Students inevitably find workarounds, like breaking open lockable phone pouches.'
Government defends ban amid broader digital strategy
A Department for Education spokesperson said: 'We’re using the power of government to drive a culture change that is widely backed by parents and school leaders alike – enabling children to benefit from the best of technology, while protecting them from the worst of it. Banning mobile phones in schools doesn’t sit alone. We’re giving children the skills to navigate the online world safely, introducing the first-ever screen use guidance for parents of five- to 16-year-olds, banning social media proven to harm under-16s, supporting the building of safe AI tutoring tools, and updating the curriculum so every child can identify misinformation and build real media literacy skills.'
