Home / DfE: Statutory ban on mobile phones "not necessary"
DfE: Statutory ban on mobile phones "not necessary"
EB News: 22/05/2025 - 09:38
The government has rejected a recommendation to produce statutory guidance over the use of smart phones in schools, as recommended in the Education Committee's report.
The Government argues this would be unnecessary as the vast majority of schools already have such policies in place.
The government's response was: "Schools already have the power to ban mobile phones from their site. Many did this prior to the publication of the DfE guidance, and since its publication our surveys have found that there were no leaders who said that pupils could use their mobile phone any time in school.
"A statutory ban to give more force to the existing guidance is not necessary when survey evidence suggests schools are following the guidance already."
However, the Education Committee says that its previous inquiry heard from school leaders that having legally backed guidance in place would assist them in engaging with parents who challenge phone bans that are currently self-imposed by schools.
Education Committee Chair Helen Hayes MP said: "“The argument that most schools already ban phones misses the point that school staff would have a backstop, an added line of defence, if the law was on their side when facing challenge from parents or students.”
Sixty-five per cent of parents and grandparents have said they felt driving should be on the school curriculum, according to a survey by pre-17 driver training scheme provider Young Driver.
The government has announced a new package of bursaries and scholarships worth up to £31,000 to train to teach in subjects including chemistry, maths, physics, and computing.
Schools in England could face an annual shortfall of £310 million in covering the cost of free school meals unless urgent action is taken, according to a new report led by Northumbria University.
Spending on educational support for children with high needs has risen sharply in recent years, creating unsustainable financial pressure on both local authorities and central government, new analysis warns.
The Always Active Uniform is a flexible, comfortable school uniform including active footwear, designed to support spontaneous movement and daily activity throughout the school day.