The government in England, United Kingdom, has announced plans to introduce a legal ban on smartphones in schools.
Education minister Baroness Jacqui Smith told the House of Lords on Monday that the government would table an amendment to its landmark Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill “creating a clear legal requirement for schools” on the matter.
The Department for Education (DfE) said the proposal would effectively give “legal force to what schools are already doing in practice”.
Earlier this year, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson had written to schools urging them to adopt updated guidance recommending that schools remain phone-free throughout the school day.
The government now says it intends to place that guidance on a statutory footing, meaning schools will be legally required to take it into account. Ministers argue this differs from the Conservatives’ position, which has called for a direct legal ban.
Conservative shadow education secretary Laura Trott welcomed the move, saying the amendment, which is expected to be formally introduced in the coming days, was “fantastic news for headteachers, parents and pupils across the country”.
“For over a year, Labour dismissed this as an unnecessary gimmick, and just last week the education minister claimed the problem had already been solved,” she wrote on X.
“I’m glad they’ve now listened, this is the right step for improving behaviour and raising attainment in our classrooms.”
In her remarks to the House of Lords, Baroness Smith also noted that the government had removed the “not seen, not heard” approach, where phones are simply switched off and kept in bags, as a recommended option, and said they were open to “whether we should be stronger on that”.
Some schools already use systems such as lockers or magnetically sealed pouches to keep students’ phones stored during the school day.
Full details of the proposed amendment are yet to be published.
The Liberal Democrats said ministers must now “ensure all schools have the necessary support and funding to manage this transition”.
Party education spokesperson Caroline Voaden said the development represented “a major win for pupils, teachers, and families” and accused ministers of being “dragged” towards the policy shift.
The Department for Education maintained it has “been consistently clear that mobile phones have no place in schools”, adding that most schools already enforce restrictions.
A spokesperson said the amendment “builds on the steps we’ve already taken to strengthen enforcement”.
From April, Ofsted inspections will also begin reviewing schools’ mobile phone policies.
“We will always put children’s interests first, including through this Bill – which is widely recognised as the biggest piece of child safeguarding legislation in decades.”
The Bill has faced delays in Parliament, after the House of Lords supported a Conservative-backed amendment in February calling for a full phone ban.
The Association of School and College Leaders said the move would not significantly change practice, as most schools already restrict phone use.
However, its general secretary Pepe Di’Iasio said, “What would really be helpful is for the government to make funding available to schools for the safe and secure storage of mobile phones, such as storage lockers or locked pouches.”
He also urged stronger action on “the harm caused by social media and the excessive use of smartphones,” much of which occurs outside school hours.
Education policy differs across the UK, as it is devolved.
In Scotland, guidance introduced in 2024 allows headteachers to enforce phone bans in schools.
In Wales, there is no national ban, but schools can decide locally whether to restrict devices.
In Northern Ireland, a pilot scheme involving nine phone-free schools has recently concluded, with findings expected to be published in June.
