‘Distracting’ Mobile Phones to Be Banned in Schools but Unions Doubt It Is Enforceable

A pupil uses his mobile phone for research during an English lesson at the Ridings Federation Winterbourne International Academy in Winterbourne near Bristol, England, on Feb. 26, 2015. Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has set out plans to ban children from using mobile phones in school, saying they are to blame for “distraction, disruption, and bullying.”

But the proposed blanket ban on pupils using mobile phones in schools across England was immediately criticised by the leader of one of the big teaching unions who said it “could cause more problems than it solves.”

Ms. Keegan told the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester on Monday, “Today, one of the biggest issues facing children and teachers is grappling with the impact of smartphones in our schools—the distraction, the disruption, the bullying.”

She said: “We know that teachers are struggling with their impact and we know that they need support. So today we’re recognising the amazing work that many schools have done in banning mobile phones and we’re announcing that we will change guidance so that all schools will follow their lead.”

Currently head teachers are able to decide their own policies on mobile phones but all schools will now have to abide by guidance issued by the Department for Education (DfE) on the use of phones during the school day.

It is not clear if students will have to stash their phones in lockers or will be allowed to keep them in their bags or pockets.

Secretary of State for Education Gillian Keegan departs from Number 10, following the weekly Cabinet meeting at Downing Street in London on May 9, 2023. Leon Neal/Getty Images

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), said a blanket ban would be a “big challenge” for schools.

He said, “We are not sure how it would work in practice and how it could be successfully implemented in a wide range of schools.”

‘There Could Be Parental Opposition’

“Most young people won’t just stop bringing their phones to school, and there could be parental opposition too, as there are practical reasons why pupils may need a mobile phone such as while travelling to and from school,” added Mr. Whiteman.

He said: “We are also concerned that a blanket ban won’t work for all schools. We query whether this new policy has actually been sense checked at all with the profession.”

“Unfortunately, a ban on mobile phones in school can cause more problems than it solves, leading to pupils becoming more secretive about their phone use, meaning problems are hidden from staff and therefore more difficult to spot and address,” Mr. Whiteman added.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said the government would consider legislating if the guidance was ignored by schools.

“Compelling schools to make the change by putting the guidance on a statutory footing and therefore legislating would take time. So we obviously keep that under consideration, if needed, but we think it’s better to act swiftly, which is why we’re issuing this guidance,” he added.

In May a committee of MPs were told smartphones should be banned at school, because too many children were watching pornography on them or using them to take so-called upskirting videos.

Lucy Marsh, from the Family Education Trust charity, told the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee that children growing up in the smartphone era are subjected to a highly sexualised environment.

She said: “Should children have access to smartphones and should they be in schools for that? For that, I would say the answer is no. I don’t think smartphones should be in schools.”

In 2021 the then-Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said he wanted to get rid of mobile phones in classrooms, describing them as “damaging,” but he was reshuffled by Prime Minister Boris Johnson before he could enact a ban.

School children looking at smartphones during class in an undated file photo. Ben Birchall/PA

In 2022 the DfE issued guidance that said it was up to headteachers to decide “if mobile phones can be used during the school day.”

His comments came as a report from the United Nations highlighted data suggesting that “mere proximity” to a mobile device can distract students and have a negative impact on their learning.

Primary and middle schools in France have had a phone ban since 2018 and in July the Dutch government announced it would ban smartphones and smartwatches from classrooms from next year.

Unenforceable Ban ‘Will Make the Behaviour Crisis Worse’

Patrick Roach, general secretary of the National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) union, said: “If the government introduces blanket bans that are unenforceable, this will make the behaviour crisis worse, not better.”

The NASUWT said mobile phones were less of a problem for teachers than poor behaviour and social skills following COVID-19 restrictions.

Mr. Roach added: “Teachers across the country would welcome more support around dealing with the problems caused by social media. But abusive use of mobile phones is not just confined to the classroom and we need to see better support for schools and families when problems arise.”

PA Media contributed to this report.