Mobile phones to be banned in all schools – full new rules for pupils, parents and teachers
Aneira Davies
Social and newsletter writerHeadteachers have been given 4 options of how to ban mobiles in their schools – with new guidance for parents, too
Mobile phones are to be banned in all schools in England, under new guidance by the Department for Education (DfE).
Government ministers have confirmed plans to stop the use of mobile phones in schools, with new guidance immediately issued to headteachers.
The rules are designed to 'minimise disruption and improve behaviour in classrooms' and will mean the use of mobile phones throughout the school day will be prohibited, including at break times.
The new guidance says that schools should prohibit the use of mobile phones, but headteachers will have autonomy on how to do this. It's not compulsory by law.
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What does a phone ban look like?
There are 4 options given to headteachers. Schools will be able to choose an approach to prohibiting mobile phones which suits them.
These include a complete ban on mobile phones on school grounds, which they are told would be 'straightforward to enforce.'
Other possibilities include requiring pupils to hand in their phones to teachers before their first class, or asking them to keep them in inaccessible lockers during the school day.
Alternatively, teachers are told they could enforce a 'never used, seen or heard' policy where pupils are allowed to keep their phones in their bags, but warned they will be confiscated if they are taken out.
The four rules schools will be asked to choose from are as follows:
- No mobile phones on the school premises – a school may decide not to allow any mobile phones on campus and they must be left at home or with parents
- Mobile phone handed in on arrival – a school may decide its pupils can have access to their phones before and after the school day, but not during the school day. Phones will be handed in to staff at the beginning of the day
- Mobile phones kept in secure location – schools may offer an alternative solution where personal possessions are kept in lockers, with phones being put in the lockers at the beginning of the school day and not collected until the end of the day
- Never used, seen or heard – a policy where pupils keep possession of their mobile phones but will not be allowed to use them at all during the school day. Some schools may stipulate that the mobile phone is switched off and placed in pupils' bags
The government says the ban on mobile phones will 'minimise disruption and improve behaviour in classrooms' and 'ensure there is a consistent approach across all schools'.
But school leaders say that many schools already follow these rules – and that it will make 'little difference'.
'Ensure a consistent approach'
The government noted that many schools across the country have already seen 'great results' in prohibiting the use of mobile phones, but that new guidance – which is not statutory – would back headteachers who want to implement the changes.
It's part of a £10 billion investment into the government's Behaviour Hubs, which will support up to 700 schools over three years.
Speaking about the plans today, education secretary Gillian Keegan said that new guidelines would 'send a clear message about consistency'.
Ms Keegan said: 'Schools are places for children to learn and mobile phones are, at a minimum, an unwanted distraction in the classroom.
'We are giving our hard-working teachers the tools to take action to help improve behaviour and to allow them to do what they do best – teach.'
She also told BBC Radio 4's Today programme:
'You go to school, you go to learn, you go to create those friendships, you go to speak to people and socialise and you go to get educated – you don’t go to sit on your mobile phone or to send messages whilst you could actually talk to somebody.'
End the 'mixed approach'
Gillian Keegan added that, currently, schools in England have a mixed approach to mobile phones. While some ban the use of devices altogether during the school day, others have a more relaxed approach, where pupils are allowed to check their phones during break times.
The DfE's guidance would ensure that all schools in England are given new measures on pupils' use of mobile phones to ensure a consistent approach, and could see pupils unable to use phones even during break times.
The new guidelines are being brought in to help tackle disruptive behaviour and improve education standards across the board, adds the government.
It comes as new data by charity ParentKind shows that 44% of parents are concerned about the amount of time their child spends on electronic devices, rising to 50% among parents of secondary school children.
And the latest government data also found that a third (29%) of secondary school pupils reported mobile phones being used when they were not supposed to, in most, or all, lessons.
Ofcom figures also show that 97% of children have their own mobile phone by the age of 12 – which the government says can lead to classroom disruption and distraction among pupils, as well as online bullying.
It comes almost three years after the government first announced it wanted to ban mobiles in the classroom.
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How will the rules be implemented?
The government says 'schools will be supported to prohibit mobile phone use with examples of different approaches including banning phones from the school premises, handing in phones on arrival at school, and keeping phones securely locked away at school'.
Many schools have already reported success in introducing tactics such as lockers with charging points to ensure phones aren't used in the classroom.
New rules for teachers and parents
The guidance also has new rules for teachers and parents.
It states that staff should not use their own mobile phones for personal reasons in front of pupils during the school day, and parents should be told they must contact the the school office if they need to speak to their children.
Teachers are also advised they must give children lessons explaining the negative consequences of allowing mobile phones, including 'loss of focus, classroom disruption and an increase in bullying.'
'Will make little difference'
But others are critical of the government's plans, saying schools already implement such rules and that mobile phones are more of a problem outside of school.
Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, called the guidelines a 'non-policy for a non-problem'.
While he admitted the amount of time some children spend on phones was a worry, he added: 'This compulsive use of these devices is not something that is happening in schools – where robust polices are already in place – but while children are out of school.
'Most schools already forbid the use of mobile phones during the school day or allow their use only in limited and stipulated circumstances.
'We have lost count of the number of times that ministers have now announced a crackdown on mobile phones in schools. It is a non-policy for a non-problem.'
Daniel Kebede, the general secretary of the National Education Union, said the new guidance would make 'little difference'.
He said: 'As most schools already have policies in place to deal with the problems of mobile phone use this guidance will make little difference and is a distraction from the many problems facing education.'
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