Mobile phones in schools: New DfE guidance and Ofsted expectations

With almost universal ownership (97-98%) of a mobile phone by the age of 12 for children in the UK, 19% of children aged 3-5, up to 30% of 5-7 year olds and over 50% of 8-11 year olds (Ofcom) it’s not a surprise that there is new guidance on how schools implement a policy that prohibits the use of mobile phones in schools, including looking at smart technology.

This guidance from the Department for Education, was published last week. The starting point for the guidance is that ‘All schools should be mobile phone-free environments by default: anything other than this should be by exception only’. Whilst the guidance is non-statutory, Ofsted has published their explanation of how they will be supporting the guidance through inspections and said that school leaders have their full backing to ban mobile phones in schools. With this in mind, it’s helpful to be aware of the changes that will be incorporated into inspections from April.

From the 1st April, Ofsted state they plan, on every school inspection, to ‘discuss with leaders what their policy is on mobile phones and how this is communicated to parents and to pupils’. They will ‘evaluate whether staff and pupils understand the expectations around mobile phones’, and they will ‘determine how consistently the school’s mobile phone policy is being followed and its impact on pupils’ learning, behaviour and wellbeing’.

The concerns around mobile phone use, such as screen addiction, cyberbullying, reduced physical activity, sleep disturbance, reduced face to face interaction and the potential to be exploited, are not new. These are often raised alongside concerns that mobile phone use intensifies the social pressure that children already face with social media often presenting idealistic lives that children feel they cannot live up to, in terms of their popularity, appearance or lifestyle. This pressure contributes to poor body image, low mood and anxiety, which is affecting children’s self-esteem and mental health. These concerns are often shared by parents and if leaders are clear about reasons to ban mobile phones in schools, many parents and carers will support these plans.

A survey by the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association tells us that in 2023, before mobile phone use was widely banned in secondary schools, 92% of lessons were interrupted by pupil mobile phone use. 71% of the members highlighted that misuse of phones was having an impact on poor pupil behaviour and learning. It is no wonder that Ofsted supports the guidance and wants to look closely at how mobile phone use is either banned or managed within the school environment. This survey also emphasised the concerns staff had about their own safety with children recording staff, sharing images of staff and contacting parents during the school day to complain about staff members.

With the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, stating this week that mobile phones have no place in schools, some settings will choose to completely ban mobile phones and many already have. Ofsted has said this is a position they support but will expect to see this reflected in policy, and that it is clearly communicated to all stakeholders. Ofsted will also expect to see a phone-free environment during their visit. If schools choose to allow some exceptions for mobile phone use, Ofsted will want to know the reasons for this and check the consistency of this in practice. If schools choose not to follow the guidance, Ofsted has clearly said they will ‘continue to explore the impact of mobile phones on pupil’s behaviour, safety and wellbeing’.

If your school is considering a mobile phone and smart technology ban, there are some actions you may wish to consider:

• Policy reviews – check that the behaviour policy reflects the updated guidance. Is there anything that needs to be added? Does the policy reference all smart technology? The guidance tells us that a ban on mobile phones in schools can be covered by a stand-alone policy or be covered within other policies.

• Ensure all staff and governors are aware – If changes are made, ensure that everyone is aware of the updated guidance and Ofsted’s response.

• Think about the Standard Operating Procedures – how will staff manage any breach of policy? Consistency in the approach will be essential. Will there be any exceptions for medical needs? Are searches for mobiles phones specifically mentioned as part of a policy?

• Ensure parents and carers are aware of the new guidance and how the school plans to implement the recommendations – getting parents and carers on board will be essential.

Schools must, as with any other aspect of school life, consider the safeguarding of pupils who potentially may breach a blanket ban policy. Schools need to consider any pupils who could be being exploited and reflect on this when a sanction is given, ensuring that there is an appropriate safeguarding response. An experiment conducted by Channel Four, where children took part in a 21-day ‘no mobile phone use’ study, showed that removing smart phones led to reduced anxiety, increased social connection, reduced symptoms of digital dependency and increased sleep, with most pupils reporting significantly better wellbeing.

Teachers have also been advised by the Education Secretary not to use their phones in front of students. Staff members modelling the behaviour schools want to see from pupils is essential if the culture around mobile phone use is to change. Many schools already have staff guidance in place on personal mobile phone use, and ensuring this is followed by all staff members and volunteers will be pivotal in ensuring pupils are on board if schools choose to go ahead with a mobile phone ban. Staff policies should include information such as: where personal phones should be stored during lessons, usage restrictions such as personal calls and texts being forbidden during lessons, safeguarding precautions, such as being explicit that personal cameras and phones should never be used to take images of children, and how staff can be contacted in an emergency.

Understandably, many parents and carers will want their child to have a mobile phone for the journey to and from school and therefore, many will arrive at school with a mobile phone in their possession. There are many ways in which schools can implement a policy, however thinking about how phones will be stored safely is essential. Some schools have mobile phone storage lockers, or locked pouches which prevent phones from being used. In others, phones are handed in at reception and stored securely there, whilst some schools have a policy of phones being off and away which keeps the responsibility of the care of the phone with the pupil. There are pros and cons to any method and schools should consider what will work best for them and their pupils, and communicate this to parents and carers. It is imperative that they understand the benefits of placing a ban on the use of mobile phones in schools, so that they are supportive of the school’s policy and encourage their child to see the benefit for their academic progress, safety, social development and overall wellbeing.

We hope this blog has shared useful insights and information to help school leaders implement a ban on mobile phones in schools. Please explore our Safeguarding services to find out how we can support your setting.