The Labour Government is set to introduce stricter guidance in England that will prevent pupils from accessing their phones on them during the school day. Guidance that came into force in June made schools and trusts responsible for being phone-free during the day, but the new rules will go beyond “not seen, not heard” phone policies, where devices stay in pupils’ bags during the day, to ensure children can learn away from distractions, the Government has said.
This guidance may change next year, as the Government will prevent students from having their phones on them at all, starting in September 2027. It is understood these rules are separate from the UK’s ban on social media for under-16s, which is due to start in March 2027.
Education Secretary Lucy Powell said school was for learning and friendship, “not scrolling”, as she set out plans to encourage “truly phone-free” classrooms. While most schools state that phones should be seen and not heard, only 16% of secondary pupils say phone rules are followed all of the time, according to a DfE survey carried out in June.
The revised statutory Government mobile phone guidance, due to come into effect in September next year, is intended to provide greater clarity on stronger approaches schools can take. Head teachers’ unions said that without further funding, schools would struggle to implement the stricter new policies.
Schools have introduced sealed pouches or lockers to follow the new guidance, while others are collecting phones at the start of the day. Headteachers’ unions have said additional funding will be needed if schools are required to implement more robust measures – like lockable pouches or secure storage – to keep phones away from pupils.
Education Secretary Lucy Powell. (Image: Getty)
Last week, education minister Paul Waugh said there was a risk of a “Wild West” of education technology products in schools across England.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “Many schools already have restrictions on phones, but going beyond a ‘not seen, not heard’ approach comes at a cost.
“If schools are to implement some of the more robust measures suggested in this guidance, they will need access to additional funding and support.”
Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: “If all schools are going to be expected to have lockable pouches or other secure storage facilities for every pupil, the cost involved will be very significant indeed. This is not feasible unless the Government puts in the funding required to meet these costs.”
