By the age of 12, 97% of children own
a mobile phone, but the use of mobile phones in school can lead
to distractions, disruption and can increase the risk of online
bullying.
Many schools have already introduced
rules which prohibit the use of phones at school, to help
children focus on their education, and the friends and staff
around them.
We’re introducing guidance which encourages
all schools to follow this approach, so that more pupils can
benefit from the advantages of a phone-free environment. Here’s
everything you need to know.
Are you banning mobile phones
in schools?
The new guidance says that schools
should prohibit the use of mobile phones, but they will have
autonomy on how to do this.
Some may allow phones to be brought
onto the premises but not to be used during school hours,
including at breaktime.
This brings England in line with other
countries who have put in place similar rules, including France,
Italy and Portugal.
Will this apply to all
pupils?
The guidance sets out that there will
be some limited cases where pupils should be exempt from the
rule.
While the majority of pupils won’t be
allowed to use their mobile phones during the school day, we know
that some children need their mobile phones for medical reasons,
or because they have special educational needs and/or
disabilities.
How will prohibiting mobile
phones work in schools?
Schools will be able to choose an
approach to prohibiting mobile phones which suits
them.
This could include banning phones from
the school premises, handing in phones on arrival at school, or
keeping phones locked away.
What else are you doing to
improve school behaviour?
We’re investing £10 million in
Behaviour Hubs across the country, supporting up to 700 schools
to improve behaviour over three
years.
Behaviour Hubs help schools that have
exemplary positive behaviour cultures to work closely with other
schools that want to turn around their behaviour, alongside
providing access to central support and a taskforce of
advisers.
