In an era where smartphones are an everyday part of life, the UK government has announced new guidance backing schools in banning mobile phones throughout the school day, including break times. The aim? To minimise disruption, improve behaviour, and reduce issues like online bullying, distraction, and the negative impact of excessive screen time on young people’s wellbeing.
At first glance, this seems like a logical step—after all, many schools already enforce strict mobile phone policies. But is this move a game-changer, or is it simply reinforcing what’s already in place? And does it really address the deeper issues affecting students’ online experiences and mental health?
Why the Push for a Ban?
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has been clear about the government’s position:
“Schools are places for children to learn, and mobile phones are, at a minimum, an unwanted distraction in the classroom.” (GOV.UK)
Citing concerns over online bullying and lost learning time, the government points to research from UNESCO, which suggests that limiting phone use can improve educational outcomes. They also highlight parental concerns—44% of parents worry about the amount of time their children spend on devices, while a staggering 97% of children own a smartphone by the age of 12 (GOV.UK, Sky News).
The new guidance aims to provide greater support for schools in enforcing bans, ensuring that mobile phone restrictions are not just left to individual schools’ discretion but are more widely encouraged.
What’s Already Happening in Schools?
However, many educators argue that this backing doesn’t really change much. Nadeine Asbali, a secondary school teacher, describes the move as a case of the government “establishing a ban on anyone leaving their front door wide open at night—nobody does it anyway” (The Guardian).
She points out that most schools already have strict mobile phone policies, and enforcing such rules is already part of everyday school life. In her view, this announcement simply reinforces existing practices rather than offering meaningful change.
Are We Addressing the Real Issue?
One of the biggest criticisms of the ban is that it focuses on symptoms rather than root causes. The government says it wants to improve young people’s wellbeing by limiting screen time, but critics argue that this doesn’t tackle the bigger picture.
Asbali raises a key question: “If smartphones have exacerbated the mental health crisis among young people, then what has a decade of cuts to the health service done?” (The Guardian).
She, along with others, points out that young people’s increasing reliance on phones is not just about habit or distraction—it’s often a result of deeper societal changes. The decline in extracurricular activities, youth clubs, and in-person social opportunities has pushed many young people to seek connection online. When support services and safe social spaces disappear, smartphones become a lifeline.
The Missed Potential of Smartphones
What makes this situation even more frustrating is that mobile phones, rather than being seen as a distraction, could be powerful learning tools.
Think about what a smartphone can do—it can provide the answer to almost any question, translate foreign languages in real-time, allow students to access digital textbooks, create videos for projects, and even use augmented reality to explore the world around them. In the right environment, these devices could enhance education rather than disrupt it.
But instead of integrating mobile phones safely and effectively into learning, we’ve reached a point where banning them feels like the only option. That raises an important question: have we failed to teach students how to use technology responsibly?
Practical Challenges for Schools
The government has outlined several ways schools can enforce the ban, from requiring students to hand in their phones at the start of the day to keeping them locked away. However, there are concerns about the extra burden this could place on already overstretched schools.
Confiscating phones, monitoring compliance, and handling resistance from students could all take up valuable time and resources. Asbali warns that schools are already “on their knees”, struggling with staff shortages and funding cuts (The Guardian). Adding another enforcement duty could make life even harder for teachers.
A Step Forward, But Not the Full Picture
There’s no doubt that limiting phone use during the school day has some benefits. Schools that have implemented strict policies have reported improvements in focus, behaviour, and social interaction (GOV.UK).
But is banning phones enough? Many argue that tackling online safety effectively requires more than just removing devices from the classroom—it requires education.
Rather than simply restricting access, schools need to be equipping students with the knowledge and skills to navigate the online world safely. Teaching young people about online bullying, digital footprints, privacy, and responsible screen use is just as important—if not more so—than enforcing a ban.
Looking Beyond the Ban
If the government is serious about protecting young people online, this guidance should be part of a broader strategy that includes:
- Better mental health support in schools.
- Greater investment in extracurricular activities to give young people positive offline alternatives.
- Stronger digital literacy education so students can learn to use technology safely and responsibly.
At the Online Safety Alliance, we believe that rather than just restricting technology, we should be empowering young people to use it wisely. Education is key to making that happen.
What do you think? Will the push to ban mobile phones improve students’ online safety, or is it only a short-term fix? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.