Britain is moving to make school phone bans a matter of law in England, in a shift from previous government guidance to a statutory requirement. The change would be made through an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, according to the Department for Education and parliamentary tracking of the bill.
Under the current guidance, updated in February 2026, schools in England are expected to ensure pupils do not have access to mobile phones during the school day, including lessons, breaks and lunch.
The proposed amendment would give that approach legal force rather than leaving it as non-statutory guidance. The move comes as ministers face mounting political pressure over children’s screen time and online safety.
Recent reporting says the government decided to back the legal change after resistance in Parliament, with supporters arguing the law would remove ambiguity for schools and parents.
In practice, the impact may be more symbolic than transformative for many schools. Research cited by the Children’s Commissioner found that 99.8% of primary schools and 90% of secondary schools in England already have policies restricting or limiting mobile phone use during the school day. Education groups have broadly welcomed the added clarity, though some have warned that enforcement and storage costs will matter if the measure becomes law.
