The United Kingdom government has announced plans to introduce a legal requirement restricting smartphone use in schools across England, formalising existing guidance by embedding it into law through an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
Education minister Jacqui Smith told the House of Lords that the government would bring forward the amendment to establish what she described as a “clear legal requirement” for schools to adopt stricter mobile phone policies.
According to the Department for Education, the move is intended to give statutory backing to practices already widely in place, as many schools currently operate their own restrictions on pupil phone use during the school day.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson had earlier written to schools encouraging them to adopt fully phone-free policies throughout school hours.
The government now plans to elevate that guidance into law, requiring schools to take it into account when setting internal rules.
Ministers said the approach differs from opposition proposals advocating a blanket national ban.
Conservative shadow education secretary Laura Trott welcomed the development, describing it as a positive step for pupils, parents, and teachers, and said it could help improve behaviour and academic performance.
During debate in the House of Lords, Jacqui Smith said some earlier options, including “not seen, not heard” policies where phones are switched off and kept in bags, had been removed from updated guidance.
She added that the government remained open to further tightening restrictions if necessary.
Schools across England already use a range of enforcement methods, including lockers and magnetically sealed pouches, although the exact details of the new amendment have not yet been published.
The Liberal Democrats urged the government to ensure schools are adequately supported to implement the changes.
Party education spokesperson Caroline Voaden said the policy shift marked an important development but warned that sufficient funding would be needed to ensure a smooth rollout.
Officials said compliance with school phone policies would be assessed by Ofsted inspections from April, as part of broader safeguarding reforms in education.
The legislation has faced delays between the House of Commons and House of Lords after peers previously supported a Conservative-backed amendment calling for stricter restrictions.
Education sector leaders have suggested the policy may have limited practical impact, arguing that most schools already enforce similar rules.
General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, Pepe Di’Iasio, said the government should provide funding to help schools install secure storage systems such as lockers or locked pouches.
He also called for stronger regulation of social media platforms, arguing that much of the harm associated with smartphone use occurs outside school hours.
Across the UK, approaches to mobile phone use in schools vary due to devolved education systems. Scotland issued guidance in 2024 allowing headteachers to impose bans, while schools in Wales already have powers to restrict devices.
In Northern Ireland, a pilot phone-free scheme has recently concluded, with results expected later this year.
