England bans phones in schools by law after government U-turn
England's government will ban phones in schools by law, Education Minister Jacqui Smith announced. The move creates a legal requirement for all schools to be phone-free during the entire school day, including breaks and lunch.
England's government will ban phones in schools by law, Education Minister Jacqui Smith announced. The move creates a legal requirement for all schools to be phone-free during the entire school day, including breaks and lunch.
The government will add an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill to make existing guidance on phone bans legally binding. Previously, schools were only encouraged to ban phones through government guidance issued to school heads.
The decision marks a policy reversal for the Labour government, which critics are calling another U-turn. A House of Commons committee had recommended implementing a legal ban if voluntary guidance proved ineffective within twelve months.
The education secretary had already written to school heads making clear that all schools should be phone-free for the entire day. The House of Lords has backed the move toward a legal ban.
Conservative shadow education minister Baroness Barran had pushed for the law change, arguing stronger measures were needed beyond voluntary guidance.
If you have kids in English schools, this affects their daily routine and how they can contact you during school hours. The legal ban gives schools clear power to enforce phone-free policies that some struggled to implement.
The amendment will be added to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill as it moves through Parliament.
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