UK Statutory Mobile Phone Ban in Schools

The United Kingdom government is moving to make mobile phone bans in schools statutory by introducing an amendment to the Children s Wellbeing and Schools Bill in the United Kingdom===House of Lords. This amendment, spearheaded by the United Kingdom===Department for Education, aims to give legal force to existing guidance that advises headteachers to prohibit mobile phone use during the school day. While many schools, including 99.8% of primary and 90% of secondary schools, already have policies limiting phone use, the statutory change seeks to provide clarity and strengthen enforcement. Teaching unions like NASUWT and National Association of Head Teachers support the move, though some, like the Association of School and College Leaders, suggest that funding for secure storage would be more beneficial. The Children s Wellbeing and Schools Bill also includes broader child safeguarding measures, such as a compulsory register for out-of-school children and a crackdown on profiteering in children's social care.