The government has announced strengthened guidance requiring schools in England to ensure pupils have no access to mobile phones during the school day from September 2027, going beyond 'no see, no hear' policies that allow devices to remain in bags. Education Secretary Lucy Powell said children 'should not be using smartphones at any point during the school day, full stop'.
The new statutory guidance, which goes beyond the existing requirement for schools to be phone-free, means phones cannot be kept in pupils' pockets or bags while they are on school premises. Schools will retain flexibility over enforcement, with options including lockable pouches, secure storage or collecting phones at the start of the day.
Existing guidance came into force in June, making schools and trusts legally responsible for being phone-free throughout the day. A Department for Education survey found that only 16 per cent of secondary school pupils say phone rules are followed all the time.
Headteachers' unions say additional funding would be needed if schools are required to implement the stricter measures. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT, said going beyond a 'not seen, not heard' approach 'comes at a cost' and that schools implementing more robust measures 'will need access to additional funding and support'. Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said that if all schools are expected to have lockable pouches or other secure storage for every pupil, 'the cost involved will be very significant indeed' and that 'this is not feasible unless the government puts in the funding required'.
Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott said she was 'delighted that Labour have finally listened to us and agreed to properly ban smartphones in schools', but criticised a lack of 'joined up thinking' over technology in classrooms. Liberal Democrat schools spokesperson Caroline Voaden said the stronger guidance was 'a positive step' but argued the government must ensure all schools have the necessary funding, and called for safeguards for pupils with SEND needs or caring responsibilities.
Children's Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza welcomed 'strong action to stop phones distracting pupils and disrupting the school day'. Charlotte Ashton, co-founder of campaign group Generation Focus, said 'no see, no hear' policies were not working and pupils were still 'TikToking in the toilets'. She said the aim should be that it is not normal for every child to have a personal internet-enabled device in their pocket.
Some schools have already introduced similar measures and reported benefits. Karl Harrison, headteacher at Burnage Academy for Boys in Manchester, told BBC Breakfast that his school spent £20,000 on metal detectors and phone pouches and has seen increased socialising and focus. Caty Reid, headteacher of Clayton Hall Academy, said since giving every pupil in Years 7 to 11 a pouch, staff have seen 'students playing and talking together more', better engagement in lessons and improved attendance.
The guidance is separate from the UK's upcoming ban on social media for under-16s, due in March. Education is devolved, so approaches vary. Scotland is set to introduce its own law, Wales is consulting, and Northern Ireland is consulting on a possible statutory ban.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The strengthened guidance represents a significant escalation in government attempts to limit phone use in schools, potentially improving focus and social interaction but creating new costs for schools.
- The move highlights a wider UK push to tackle children's screen time, following the upcoming social media ban for under-16s.
- The autonomy given to schools on implementation may lead to varying approaches across England unless funding is provided.
Background
The government first introduced statutory guidance in June 2026 requiring schools to be phone-free, but it did not specify enforcement methods. The new guidance, effective from September 2027, removes the 'no see, no hear' option and requires phones to be completely inaccessible. The policy is part of a broader UK effort to reduce children's exposure to smartphones and social media, with a separate ban on social media for under-16s expected in March 2027.
Key Perspectives
Lucy Powell (Education Secretary): Children 'should not be using smartphones at any point during the school day, full stop'. The strengthened guidance is about taking 'the next leap towards truly phone-free schools'.
Paul Whiteman (NAHT): Going beyond a 'not seen, not heard' approach 'comes at a cost' and schools will need 'additional funding and support'.
Pepe Di'Iasio (ASCL): Expecting lockable pouches or secure storage for every pupil 'is not feasible unless the government puts in the funding required'.
Laura Trott (Shadow Education Secretary): 'Delighted that Labour have finally listened to us and agreed to properly ban smartphones in schools.'
Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrats): Stronger guidance is 'a positive step' but 'the government must ensure all schools have the necessary funding' and there should be safeguards for pupils with SEND needs or caring responsibilities.
Dame Rachel de Souza (Children's Commissioner): Welcomed 'strong action to stop phones distracting pupils and disrupting the school day'.
Charlotte Ashton (Generation Focus): 'No see, no hear' policies were not working and pupils were still 'TikToking in the toilets'. She said 'Ultimately, we need to get to a point where it's not normal for every single child to have a personal internet-enabled device in their pockets with them 24/7'.
What to Watch
- Whether the government announces additional funding to help schools implement the stricter measures.
- How schools adapt their policies before the September 2027 deadline and whether the ban is enforced consistently.
- The outcome of the planned consultation on independent safety certification for education technology.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 3 sources: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedPhones must be inaccessible to pupils during the school day in England under stricter guidance from September 2027.BBC News: “Pupils will not be allowed access to their phones at all during the school day under stricter government guidance in England. ... when it comes into force from September 2027.”
- SupportedLucy Powell said, “school is for learning and friendship, not scrolling”.BBC News: “Education Secretary Lucy Powell said the government's "clear message" to parents and pupils was that "school is for learning and friendship, not scrolling".”
- SupportedLucy Powell said children “should not be using smartphones at any point during the school day, full stop”.The Independent UK: “Ms Powell said: “Children should not be using smartphones at any point during the school day, full stop.””
- SupportedStatutory guidance that came into force in June made schools and trusts legally responsible for being phone-free throughout the day.The Independent UK: “Statutory guidance came into force in June, which made schools and trusts legally responsible for being phone-free throughout the day.”
- SupportedA DfE survey found that 16 per cent of secondary pupils say phone rules are followed all the time.The Independent UK: “only 16 per cent of secondary school pupils say these rules are followed all of the time, according to a DfE survey carried out in June.”
- SupportedPaul Whiteman said going beyond a “not seen, not heard” approach “comes at a cost” and schools using more robust measures would need additional funding and support.The Independent UK: “going beyond a ‘not seen, not heard’ approach comes at a cost. “If schools are to implement some of the more robust measures suggested in this guidance, they will need access to additional funding and support.””
- SupportedPepe Di'Iasio said secure storage for every pupil would involve significant costs and would not be feasible without government funding.The Independent UK: ““If all schools are going to be expected to have lockable pouches or other secure storage facilities for every pupil, the cost involved will be very significant indeed. “This is not feasible unless the Government puts in the funding required to meet these costs.””
- SupportedLaura Trott said she was “delighted that Labour have finally listened to us and agreed to properly ban smartphones in schools” and criticised a lack of “joined up thinking” over classroom technology.BBC News: “Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott said she was "delighted that Labour have finally listened to us and agreed to properly ban smartphones in schools". ... she criticised what she called a lack of "joined up thinking" over what new tech was being allowed in classrooms.”
- SupportedCaroline Voaden called for funding for all schools and safeguards for pupils with SEND needs or caring responsibilities.The Independent UK: “This can obviously come at a cost, so the government must ensure all schools have the necessary funding ... “There must also be safeguards to ensure pupils with SEND needs or caring responsibilities still have access to a phone if they need one.””
- SupportedCharlotte Ashton said “no see, no hear” policies were not working and pupils were still “TikToking in the toilets”.BBC News: “Charlotte Ashton, co-founder of campaign group of Generation Focus, similarly welcomed the changes, saying "no see, no hear" policies were not working and pupils were still "TikToking in the toilets".”
- SupportedBurnage Academy for Boys spent £20,000 on metal detectors and phone pouches, and its headteacher said locking phones away had increased pupils’ socialising and focus.BBC News: “the school had spent £20,000 to bring in a system of metal detectors and phone pouches ... locking phones away had increased how much pupils socialised at school, he said. "It's also increased levels of focus in lessons"”
- SupportedCaty Reid said staff had seen “students playing and talking together more”, better lesson engagement and improved attendance since pupils in Years 7 to 11 were given pouches.Politics.co.uk: “Caty Reid, headteacher of Clayton Hall Academy, said every pupil in Years 7 to 11 had been given a pouch ... She said that since introducing the approach, staff had seen “students playing and talking together more”, better engagement in lessons, improved attendance”