Mobile phone ban in schools: lobby groups say “it’s about time”

Lucy Carrier-Pilkington | 22nd April 2026 | Comment, Politics

The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill will be amended to introduce a legal ban on mobile phones in schools in England.

The latest government U-turn turns the existing guidance on mobile phone bans in schools into statutory law. The Bill, passed this week, also includes proposals for a compulsory register for children who are not in school, a clampdown on profiteering in children's social care, and a “single unique identifier” to help agencies track a child’s welfare. Daniel Kebede, schoolteacher and General Secretary of the National Education Union, told The Mace: "This is about time. While most schools are operating a ban on the use of mobile phones, this statutory obligation will certainly alleviate pressure on leaders, teachers and parents. “There now needs to be serious consideration given to the banning of social media for the under 16s as we have seen in Australia and as the NEU and others are calling for through the Big Tech's Little Victims campaign." Fiona Beresford, director of the Smartphone Free Childhood organisation told The Mace that the new legislation sends a clear signal, reflecting y...

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