UK to block phones at all schools
The government has announced a new consultation in a bid to reduce the harms of phones and social media on young people.
Immediate action will include Ofsted checking school mobile phone policy on every inspection, with schools expected to be phone-free by default thanks to today’s announcement.
The consultation will also look at other options, including raising the digital age of consent, implementing phone curfews to avoid excessive use, and restricting potentially addictive design features such as ‘streaks’ and ‘infinite scrolling’.
Changes for schools
Tougher guidance for schools on mobile phones will make it even clearer that schools need to be phone-free environments and that pupils should not have access to their devices during lessons, break times, lunch times, or between lessons.
Ofsted will examine both schools’ mobile phone policies and how effectively they are implemented when judging behaviour during inspections. Schools that are struggling will get one-to-one support from the Attendance and Behaviour Hub, which includes schools that are already effectively implementing phone bans.
Nearly all schools already have mobile phone policies in place – 99.9% of primary schools and 90% of secondary schools. However, 58% of secondary school pupils reported mobile phones being used without permission in at least some lessons, rising to 65% for key stage four pupils.
The guidance will be implemented through behaviour management in schools, and by setting out clear expectations for teachers and school staff – including that staff should not use their own mobile phones for personal reasons in front of pupils, setting an example that mobile phones are not necessary in the classroom.
“We have been clear that mobile phones have no place in our schools, but now we’re going further through tougher guidance and stronger enforcement. Mobile phones have no place in schools. No ifs, no buts,” said Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.
“Our Attendance and Behaviour Hubs will support schools that are struggling to effectively implement phone bans so all our children can learn in phone-free environments.”
The social media consultation will also seek views on a range of other measures, including:
- Determining the right minimum age for children to access social media, including exploring a ban for children under a certain age.
- Exploring ways to improve the accuracy of age assurance for children to support the enforcement of minimum age limits so children have age-appropriate experiences and see age-appropriate content.
- Assessing whether the current digital age of consent is too low.
- Removing or limiting functionalities that drive addictive or compulsive use of social media, such as ‘infinite scrolling’.
- Exploring further interventions to support parents in helping their children navigate the digital landscape, for example, further guidance or simpler parental controls.
