Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, is set to begin a thorough examination of smartphone bans in schools across England. This move comes amid increasing pressure from members of parliament to address the impact of social media on teenagers. The education department plans to monitor a group of schools to assess the effectiveness of the current guidance regarding smartphone use and will conduct an in-depth analysis of the national behaviour survey in schools. This will help identify the most successful strategies for enforcing these bans and the challenges schools are facing.
The guidance issued by the department advises that schools should completely prohibit the use of mobile phones throughout the entire school day, including during lessons, breaks, and lunchtime. However, it does not specify how schools should enforce these bans.
Phillipson has reportedly become frustrated with the lack of monitoring on whether the guidance is being followed and its usefulness to schools. There are no current plans for the government to legislate a nationwide ban on phones in schools, as ministers believe this could present numerous challenges.
The monitoring process will investigate how well schools are adhering to their policies, the number of schools that have implemented bans, and how these bans are enforced. Specific questions about smartphones will also be included in future national behaviour surveys to provide more insights.
During a recent debate, Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Labour Party, mentioned watching the Netflix series “Adolescence” with his teenage children, a show that addresses the impact of online misogynist influencers. Anneliese Midgley, a Labour MP, called for more action to tackle online male radicalization.
The Labour party introduced a bill earlier this year, aimed at making social media content less addictive for children. The technology secretary, Peter Kyle, has reportedly opposed further changes that would go beyond self-regulation. On the other hand, the health secretary, Wes Streeting, is among those open to more robust action due to the mental health impacts of social media.
Laura Trott, the shadow education secretary, has argued that ending phone use in schools is a “no-brainer,” pointing out that the current guidance issued by the Conservative government has not been effective in stopping children from using phones in classrooms. Despite the Conservative party proposing a full ban on smartphones in schools, the government voted down the amendment. A recent Ipsos poll showed that almost half of the UK public supports a total ban on smartphones in schools, with most parents indicating that their child’s school doesn’t currently have a full ban in place.
The original bill proposed by Labour’s Josh MacAlister aimed to give headteachers the legal authority to make schools phone-free. However, the bill was watered down before being passed, removing any requirements on tech companies or schools, and instead committing the government to conduct more research. Kit Malthouse, a former Conservative education secretary, criticized the weakening of the bill, suggesting it significantly undermined its potential impact.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/mar/20/uk-government-to-look-again-at-a-smartphone-ban-in-schools
