Labour plans to ban pupils from carrying mobile phones during the school day in England from September 2027, with Education Secretary Lucy Powell calling for truly phone-free classrooms
Andy Burnham’s government is preparing to roll out tougher guidelines in England which will bar pupils from having their phones on them throughout the school day.
Rules introduced in June made schools and trusts responsible for maintaining phone-free environments during the day. However the new measures will go further than “not seen, not heard” policies, where devices remain in pupils’ bags, to guarantee children can learn free from distractions, the Government has stated.
These guidelines could shift further, as the Government will prohibit students from carrying their phones on them altogether as the new rules are set to come into effect in September 2027. It is understood these regulations are distinct from the UK’s ban on social media for under-16s, which is scheduled to begin in March 2027.
Education Secretary Lucy Powell stated that school was for learning and friendship, “not scrolling”, as she outlined plans to foster “truly phone-free” classrooms. While the majority of schools maintain that phones should be seen and not heard, only 16% of secondary pupils report that phone rules are adhered to at all times, according to a DfE survey conducted in June.
The updated statutory Government mobile phone guidance, set to take effect in September next year, is designed to offer greater clarity on the more robust approaches schools are able to adopt. Head teachers’ unions warned that without additional funding, schools would find it difficult to enforce the stricter new measures.
Schools have brought in sealed pouches or lockers to comply with the new guidance, while others are gathering phones at the beginning of the day.
Headteachers’ unions have stated extra funding will be necessary if schools are mandated to introduce more stringent measures. This could help provide lockable pouches or secure storage – to keep phones away from pupils, reports the Express.
Last week, education minister Paul Waugh stated there was a danger of a “Wild West” of education technology products in schools throughout 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.”