A new government proposal revealed plans to make it illegal for children to use mobile phones at school. The government aims to enforce existing recommendations regarding phone usage in schools by introducing a new amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill in the House of Lords.

Currently, the Department for Education advises school headteachers to prohibit students from using mobile phones on school premises, but this guidance is not legally binding. A study showed that students take up to 20 minutes to regain focus on learning after being distracted by non-academic phone notifications.

An official from the Department for Education emphasized the importance of the amendment, stating that it aligns with schools’ current practices and reinforces the ban on mobile phones. The House of Lords passed a Conservative amendment with a majority of 107 votes to restrict students from having smartphones during school hours. The Members of Parliament are set to vote on the amendment on Wednesday.

Supporting the ban, the Headteachers’ union NAHT urged the government to assist schools in implementing the new policy. The General Secretary, Paul Whiteman, mentioned that the statutory guidance would provide clarity for school leaders and ensure consistency in smartphone policies across schools.

The teaching union NASUWT and the Association of School and College Leaders also expressed support for a statutory ban on mobile phones in schools. Suggestions were made for the government to provide funding for securing pupils’ phones during the school day, such as using storage lockers or locked pouches.

A recent survey commissioned by the children’s commissioner for England revealed that the majority of primary and secondary schools already have policies restricting phone use. Primary schools reported a ban rate of 99.8%, while secondary schools reported a ban rate of 90%.

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