Phones to be legally banned in schools in England under new government plans

The government has announced plans to introduce a legal ban on smartphones in schools in England, in a move many parents struggling to keep their children safe online and off screens will welcome.

Ministers say the change will strengthen existing guidance and make it clearer that phones should not be used during the school day. While many schools already have their own rules in place, the update could mean all schools are expected to follow a tougher national approach.

The proposed change will be made through an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, with full details expected soon.

What has the government announced?

Education minister Baroness Jacqui Smith told the House of Lords on Monday 20 April 2026 that the government would table an amendment to the bill, "creating a clear legal requirement for schools" on mobile phones.

The Department for Education (DfE) said the move would give "legal force to what schools are already doing in practice".
Earlier this year, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson wrote to schools encouraging them to follow guidance recommending phone-free school days.

That guidance is now set to be placed on a statutory footing, meaning schools must take it into account.

What could this mean for parents and children?

For families, it could mean more consistency between schools in England, especially for parents unsure what rules apply in their child's setting.

Many schools already ask pupils to hand in phones, keep them switched off in bags, or place them in secure lockers during the day. Some schools also use magnetically sealed pouches.

The government has suggested it may strengthen expectations around their original guidance of phones being "not seen, not heard", meaning devices should be switched off and out of sight.

For parents, schools would still be expected to have clear contact procedures in place if they need to reach their child during the day.

Why are schools restricting phones?

Phone use in schools has become a growing concern for many teachers and parents, with worries around distraction, classroom behaviour, bullying and access to social media.

The Department of Education said it had been "consistently clear that mobile phones have no place in schools" and that the majority of schools already prohibit them.

Schools' mobile phone policies will also be monitored as part of Ofsted inspections from April, according to ministers.

Will every school have to do the same thing?

The exact wording of the amendment has not yet been published, so it is not yet clear whether schools will be given flexibility over how they enforce the rules.

Earlier this week, the House of Lords accepted proposals suggesting there should be possible exemptions for sixth form pupils, boarding school students and children using phones as medical devices.

That could be important for some families where a child relies on a smartphone for health monitoring or accessibility needs.

What about schools in the rest of the UK?

Education rules are different across the UK.

In Scotland, guidance introduced in 2024 allows headteachers to implement school phone bans.

In Wales, there is no national ban, but headteachers can restrict or ban devices in their own schools.

In Northern Ireland, a phone-free pilot scheme in nine schools has recently ended, with a report due in June.

What happens next?

The amendment is expected to be tabled in the coming days as the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill continues through Parliament.

If approved, it would mark one of the biggest shifts yet in England's approach to phones in schools, and could bring clearer expectations for schools, pupils and parents alike.