THE RULE
The whole school day
Schools should have a policy that prohibits phone use during lessons, between lessons, at breaktime and lunchtime, the guidance says. Smartwatches and similar devices can be included.
Check a situationPHONES IN SCHOOLS, ENGLAND
A phone-free
school day.
Phone-free by default, with exceptions by need.
Check a situation
1 Sept 2026statutory guidance applies
- Off for the whole day
- Clear, published rules
- Flexibility where needed
- Each school decides how
Department for Education guidance says pupils should not have access to their phones throughout the school day, including breaks and lunch. It became statutory on 29 June 2026, and schools should follow it from 1 September 2026.
Updated
THE SHORT ANSWER
No phones from
bell to bell.
The guidance applies to schools in England.
It sets the outcome; headteachers choose the method.
HOW SCHOOLS DO IT
Lockers, hand-ins, pouches
Some schools use lockers or ask pupils to hand phones to staff. A case study school of over 1,300 pupils uses lockable pouches pupils keep with them.
More on methods
WHY
Focus and disruption
The guidance lists loss of focus, classroom disruption and more bullying among the risks pupils should be taught about.
See the numbersA QUICK SITUATION CHECK
Who might be
treated differently?
Pick a situation to see what the guidance says. The bar shows how tightly phone use is restricted.
Based on the Department for Education's statutory guidance, Mobile phones in schools (England). General information, not legal advice.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
Phones are
already in lessons.
One figure for use in class,
one for how many schools already restrict phones.
58%
Secondary pupils reporting phones used without permission in some lessons
Rising to 65 percent for key stage 4 pupils, in the National Behaviour Survey 2024 to 2025, as quoted in DfE guidance for parents.
BEHAVIOUR SURVEY · DfE
90%
Secondary schools already limiting phone use
Research from the Children's Commissioner, quoted by DfE, found 99.8 percent of primary and 90 percent of secondary schools already had policies limiting phones.
SCHOOL POLICIES · DfE
DfE's guidance for parents also cites Ofcom data that 31 percent of children aged 8 to 17 have had someone be 'nasty or hurtful' to them via communications technology.
FOUR THINGS PARENTS CAN DO
Know the policy,
back it at home.
The guidance gives parents a clear role alongside the school.
Read your school's policy
Schools should publish their mobile phone policy, including any sanctions for breaking it.
Call the office, not the phone
If you need to reach your child during the day, the guidance says parents should be directed to the school office.
Talk about it at home
Parents are encouraged to discuss the policy, the risks of phone use and the benefits of a phone-free day.
Raise individual needs
If your child needs a phone for a medical condition, disability or caring role, talk to the school about an arrangement.
ENFORCEMENT
Clear rules,
consistent staff.
Schools can use sanctions such as confiscation and detentions, for example if a phone is used or heard ringing in a bag. Headteachers are backed to confiscate phones for as long as they consider proportionate, taking account of a pupil's age and needs.
Staff should not use their own phones for personal reasons in front of pupils during the school day. The guidance applies to maintained schools, academies, free schools and independent schools, but not to sixth-form colleges or further education colleges.
Questions
Questions people ask
Are phones banned in schools in England?
DfE statutory guidance says schools should prohibit pupils' use of mobile phones throughout the school day, including breaks and lunch. It became statutory on 29 June 2026, with schools following it from 1 September 2026.
Can my child still take a phone to school?
Often, yes. The guidance recognises phones may matter for the journey, and schools choose methods such as lockers, handing phones in or lockable pouches.
What if my child needs a phone for a medical condition?
The guidance says that where phone use allows pupils to manage a medical condition effectively, such as glucose monitoring for diabetes, it would not be reasonable for a school to prevent it.
Can a school confiscate a phone?
Yes. The guidance says schools can confiscate phones as a sanction where the policy is clearly breached, for as long as is proportionate.
Does it apply to sixth-form colleges?
No. It does not apply to 16 to 19 academies and free schools, further education or sixth-form colleges, though they may refer to it.