Calls for clarity on how best to implement proposed legal ban on smartphones in schools

In an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, the government is proposing an existing law be altered so schools will have a legal duty to consider the guidance which says schools should be "mobile phone-free environments by default".

The Minister for Early Education Olivia Bailey said in the Commons this week that "the package of measures we have already put in place will ensure effective bans of phones in schools".

Responding to this, Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott welcomed the statutory ban but called for clarity on whether a "not seen, not heard" policy is allowed under these rules, warning "these policies don't work."

The government had written to schools earlier this year encouraging them to follow new guidance that schools be phone-free for the entire day.

The guidance states: “The Department for Education expects schools to implement a policy whereby pupils do not have access to their mobile phone throughout the school day including during lessons, the time between lessons, breaktimes and lunchtime.

“[…] There are a number of ways in which schools can ensure that they are mobile phone-free, and it is for headteachers to decide how best to achieve this within their own unique contexts.

“Some schools have chosen to use lockers to store mobile phones and other equipment, ensuring that pupils still have access to a device for safety reasons when travelling to and from school. This ensures that any potential distractions from mobile phones are removed entirely during the school day.

“To prevent pupils from attempting to circumvent this policy, one secondary school ensures that buy-in from parents is gained prior to transition from primary school, and that all families are content to accept all of the school’s policies.”

Pepe Di’Iasio, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, warned that a statutory ban on mobile phones in schools “doesn’t really change very much”, and called for funding from government to help schools implement the ban.

He said: “Most schools already have policies in place under which pupils are not permitted to use mobile phones.

“The most common approach is to require them to keep devices ‘off and away’ during the school day – with the challenge then being to ensure that these rules are followed.

“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 added: “We would also like to see much tougher regulatory action taken to tackle the harm caused by social media and the excessive use of smartphones – which generally happens outside of school time and is clearly having a profound and damaging effect on many young people.”

The government has said it will put the guidance on a statutory footing which means schools must pay attention to it, but said this is different from what the Conservatives had previously been advocating for - an outright legal ban.

The Bill is expected to return to the House of Lords early next week.