Phones to be banned in schools by law in England, government says
Education minister Jacqui Smith said the move would create "a clear legal requirement for schools".
www.bbc.comHere’s the latest on England’s mobile phones legislation in schools.
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What’s happening: The government is moving to make the mobile phone ban in schools a statutory requirement through amendments to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. This would convert current guidance into binding law, requiring schools to prohibit pupil use of mobile devices during the school day. This is intended to create a uniform legal framework across all state-funded schools in England. [Source: Guardian article on the proposed amendment; BBC summary of the policy move][2][5]
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Timeline and status: The amendment was discussed in the Lords in April 2026 and received cross-party attention as peers voted in favor of strengthening the policy. The policy has also been referenced in related reporting around inspections, with Ofsted set to consider school mobile phone policies as part of inspections from the 2026 cycle. The process involves ongoing parliamentary scrutiny (including “ping-pong” between Houses) to finalize wording. [Guardian: 2026-04-20; BBC: 2026-02-03; BBC: 2026-04-20][5][7][2]
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Scope and exemptions: The plan aims to ban smartphones during the school day, with some exemptions likely for medical devices or boarding settings, though the core aim is a broad prohibition across typical school hours. The Department for Education has consistently argued that many schools already prohibit phones and that this statutory move would strengthen enforcement and consistency. [BBC summary; BBC coverage of exemptions; DfE statements][3][8][5]
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Public statements and reception: Education ministers have framed the amendment as a pragmatic step to safeguarding and focus on learning, while acknowledging concerns and the need to support headteachers with clear rules. Opponents have raised questions about practicality and enforcement, but recent votes suggest broader support for codifying the ban. [BBC: 2026-04-20; Guardian: 2026-04-20][2][5]
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Practical impact for schools: If enacted, schools would be legally required to enforce a no-phone policy during the school day, with Ofsted inspections assessing compliance. The government positions this as part of a wider push to safeguard children and reduce distractions and potential bullying linked to mobile devices. [BBC: 2026-04-20; BBC: 2026-01-25/01-26; Ofsted policy notes][7][9][5]
Notes:
- You’re in Prague; UK policy developments are described here as ongoing legislative changes in England. If you’d like, I can pull the most recent official statements or provide a short briefing with direct quotes from parliamentary records.[5][2]