Phone Ban Becomes Law in England’s State Schools

Overview

• The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act section 36, which comes into force on Monday June 29, converts the government’s mobile phone guidance into a legal requirement for all state-funded schools in England.
• Ofsted inspectors will now assess whether schools have clear phone policies and are enforcing them consistently during the entire school day.
• The law requires a phone-free school environment but allows headteachers to choose how to achieve it, including total bans, handing devices in, or requiring phones to be switched off.
• Schools may grant limited exceptions for medical needs and allow Years 12 and 13 access in designated areas, and school leaders are asking the government for funding for secure storage like lockers or pouches.
• Technology experts and parents warn pupils may seek workarounds at home using hidden browsers or VPNs, which could shift device use to out-of-school hours and raise demands on parental controls.