Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to ban the use of smartphones in schools.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

The use of mobile phones in schools can be a distraction for many pupils, preventing classrooms from being calm, safe and supportive environments that are conducive to teaching. The ‘Mobile phones in schools’ guidance, which was published in February 2024, supports head teachers in prohibiting the use of mobile phones throughout the school day.

The department will monitor how schools respond to the new guidance and, should schools continue to raise issues with prohibiting the use of mobile phones in schools, the department will seek to introduce legislation at the earliest opportunity when parliamentary time allows.