Speaking ahead of a Senedd debate, Reform Wales’ Stephen Senior, the group’s education spokesman, said there should be a ‘clear, consistent ban’ on phones
Reform UK want a ban on mobile phones in schools(Image: Getty)
The debate surrounding the role of technology in our schools, and the balance between its benefits and drawbacks, is perhaps most apparent when it comes to the use of mobile phones in the classroom.
Research has highlighted the impact that mobile phones and excessive screen time can have on children’s concentration, behaviour and educational outcomes.
A House of Commons education committee report found that smartphones and computers can disrupt pupils’ learning both at home and in the classroom. It cited evidence that it can take up to 20 minutes for pupils to refocus on their learning after engaging in a non-academic activity, such as browsing the internet or checking a notification.
The same report highlighted research suggesting that children exposed to more than two hours a day of recreational screen time on smartphones and video games had poorer working memory, processing speed, attention levels, language skills and executive function. Screen time can also have a damaging effect on children’s sleep patterns.
Studies also show that even when a phone is turned off and put away in a bag, its mere presence reduces available cognitive capacity and lowers information recall because the brain subconsciously monitors it for alerts. In other words, even when it is out of sight, it is never completely out of mind.
The problem is becoming increasingly widespread. The UK Parliament’s Education Committee reported a 52% increase in children’s screen time between 2020 and 2022. It also highlighted research suggesting that nearly 25% of children and young people use their smartphones in a way consistent with behavioural addiction.
The scale of smartphone ownership among children in Wales is also concerning. Research by the Children’s Commissioner for Wales found that 62% of primary school children surveyed owned a smartphone, while 23% of those who owned one said they took it to school. In secondary schools, 97% of respondents owned a smartphone and 94% said they took it to school.
The impact extends beyond those directly using their phones. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found that, across its member countries, 65% of 15-year-olds reported being distracted by digital devices in at least some maths lessons. A further 59% said their attention was diverted by other pupils using phones, tablets or laptops.
The OECD also identified an association between digital distraction in the classroom and lower academic performance. Its analysis of PISA results highlighted how the use of digital devices for leisure can undermine learning, including for pupils who are not using the devices themselves.
These findings are particularly relevant to Wales, where educational standards remain a significant concern.
The latest PISA results show that Welsh pupils continue to lag behind their counterparts in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland in mathematics, reading and science. Mathematics results have also fallen significantly compared with 2022 PISA results.
We cannot continue to ignore the challenges facing our education system. Creating an environment in which pupils can concentrate, learn and achieve their potential must be a top priority for the Welsh Government.
The evidence from England also provides an opportunity to consider a different approach. Since September 2026, schools in England have been expected to follow statutory guidance establishing mobile-phone-free environments by default throughout the school day.
Plaid Cymru’s current approach of issuing guidance on mobile phone use in schools simply does not go far enough. During a recent First Minister’s Questions, Reform UK’s Welsh leader Helen Jenner MS challenged the First Minister to go further and introduce an outright ban.
With educational standards under pressure and growing concerns about behaviour and children’s wellbeing, there is a strong case for taking a firmer approach.
Removing the distraction of mobile phones from the school day would be a practical step towards creating a better learning environment. It would help teachers maintain discipline, allow pupils to concentrate on their studies and reduce the distractions that increasingly compete for their attention.
Obviously, there would need to be exceptions where phones are required for medical or educational reasons, but the crux of the issue is that mobile phones do not belong in the classroom.
Poor behaviour is also a longstanding concern in our schools and mobile phone use can contribute to disruption in the classroom. Teachers should be supported with clear and consistent rules rather than being left to manage competing distractions and increasingly poor behaviour.
Wales needs leadership on this issue. A legislative ban would help teachers tackle poor behaviour while supporting the wellbeing and academic success of our pupils.
Reform believes the Plaid Cymru Government should follow the approach adopted in England and introduce a clear, consistent ban on mobile phones throughout the school day, helping to tackle poor behaviour and improve educational outcomes for pupils across Wales.
