Over nine in ten schools in England have implemented a ban on mobile phone usage, survey reveals

Nine in ten schools in England have implemented a ban on mobile phone usage: A recent national survey ordered by the Children’s Commissioner for England, Rachel de Souza, has revealed that 90% of secondary schools, and almost all primary schools (99.8%), have policies in place to prevent the use of mobile phones during the school day. 

 

The study constitutes the largest-ever survey of schools and colleges in England and included responses from more than 19,000 schools (almost 90% of all schools in the country). Results reveal that the vast majority have measures in place to prevent mobile phone usage on school premises. The findings highlight the variations in restriction levels implemented by headteachers. These varied from a blanket ban on bringing mobile devices onto school grounds to requiring pupils to hand their phones in to a member of staff on arrival.

 

The survey shows that restrictions were less restrictive in secondary schools, with only 3.5% of secondary pupils banned from taking their mobile phone into school compared to 21% of primary school pupils. In addition, almost four in five secondary schools (79%) allowed pupils to keep their phone on them during the school day but prohibited the use or display of them within school hours. Interestingly, 6% of secondary schools said pupils could use their phones in lessons when approved by a member of staff.

 

The survey shows that the majority of schools in England have taken actions which are in line with the Department for Education’s non-statutory guidance. Before Labour took over in parliament, the Conservatives promoted an amendment to the government’s schools bill that required all English schools to ban the use of mobile phones – this was rejected by Keir Starmer.

 

The general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), Daniel Kebede, said: “My personal view is I would support a statutory ban on mobile phones in schools. I think it would alleviate pressure on school leaders and teachers but also parents. I think there is a much-needed conversation to be had in this country about mobile phone use, online harm and the damaging impact that it has on our young people.”

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