Ministers are set to press ahead with plans to ban mobile phone use in schools in order to improve classroom behaviour.
The department for education has released guidance for headteachers for the proposal which could potentially be met with criticism from parents.
The new policy advises headteachers to ban mobiles throughout the school day, including at break times, to tackle disruptive behaviour and online bullying while boosting attention during lessons.
However, a teaching union leader has now warned that introducing a blanket ban on pupils using mobile phones in schools across England is “unenforceable”.
Dr Patrick Roach, the general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, explained: “If the Government introduces blanket bans that are unenforceable, this will make the behaviour crisis worse, not better.”
Here is a comprehensive look at the current rules around mobile phones in schools, the arguments for why they should be banned, and more.
We know that mobile phones are a source of distraction and bullying in the classroom
— Gillian Keegan MP (@GillianKeegan) October 2, 2023
Yet, 40% of 14-year-olds report that their lessons were disrupted by phones
So today, we’re banning phones in schools
The @Conservatives are taking long-term decisions for a brighter future pic.twitter.com/yrUyYSxMFn
Are mobile phones permitted in UK schools?
As it stands, headteachers already have the power to ban phones at their schools. However, as it is up to the subjective decision of heads, each school has a different set of rules.
While some may ask pupils to hand in their phones at the start of the day, others might let them keep them in their bags during lessons and use them during breaks.
Who has argued for a ban and why?
The Government has now adopted a blanket ban on mobile phones across all schools in England.
The new guidelines are expected to allow students to bring their phones to school. However, they will be banned from using them during the school day, meaning they can only use them while travelling to and from school.
Earlier this year, a report from the United Nations provided the same advice, recommending that smartphones be banned from all schools to battle classroom disruption.
Which other countries have banned mobile phone use in schools?
In countries like France, Finland, and China, there is a national ban on phones in schools. And the Netherlands is planning to ban mobile phones from schools starting next year.
However, there have been no plans for the ban to be replicated in schools in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland so far.
