Source: Department for Education published on this website Wednesday 11 November 2026 by Jill Powell
Children will benefit from distraction-free learning under strengthened mobile phone guidance to help schools take the next step towards a truly phone-free school day.
The strengthened guidance will make clear that schools should Children will benefit from distraction-free learning under strengthened mobile phone guidance to help schools take the next step towards a truly phone-free school day.
go beyond ‘not seen, not heard’ - where phones may remain in pupils’ bags - and adopt whole-school strategies that keep phones out of use and inaccessible throughout the school day.
Access to mobile phones risks pulling children away from their learning and from each other. Evidence shows phones can cause distraction and disruption in lessons, making it harder for pupils to focus and engage with learning.
Polling published in March this year found that 40% of children aged 9–16 were turning down real-world opportunities to spend time online. The latest PISA evidence also found a significant international decline in reading and maths performance, alongside growing concerns about digital distraction.
And the problem goes beyond the classroom. The Milburn review interim report warned that disengagement can begin as early as 12 or 13 years old, with pupils saying they stayed up as late as 3am scrolling on their phones.
Schools should be a place that provides a clear break from those pressures, protecting the school day as a time to learn, connect and engage with others.
While most schools set out that phones should be not seen and not heard, only 16% of secondary pupils say phone rules are followed all of the time, and with the rapid increase in technology take-up and emerging evidence, pupils, schools and parents need more clarity.
Some schools are already putting stronger whole-school approaches into practice through lockable pouches, collection at the start of the day, secure storage or prohibiting phones onsite altogether. The strengthened guidance will build on this leadership, giving every school clearer backing to keep phones inaccessible and helping parents and pupils understand what a truly phone-free school day means.
Education Secretary Lucy Powell said:
“Children should not be using smartphones at any point during the school day, full stop. That’s why we’re strengthening our guidance to take the next leap towards truly phone-free schools.
“Schools are already leading the way. We’re backing heads and teachers with a clear message for parents and pupils: school is for learning and friendship, not scrolling.
“Alongside our curriculum reforms, this is about making school unmissable – giving every child more chances to learn, connect and thrive.”
The new phone guidance comes as the government embarks on major reforms to ensure no child is left behind and make school unmissable. Based on all the latest evidence from PISA to Milburn, the reforms will strengthen reading, writing, speaking and listening, and numeracy, restore a full three-year Key Stage 3 and make more time for enrichment.
The Education Secretary’s commitment to give oracy equal status to reading and writing will strengthen every child’s ability to communicate and connect with confidence.
The new curriculum will also restore Key Stage 3 as a distinct three-year phase, giving pupils more time to master the fundamentals and experience a broad, engaging education. Schools will be expected not to start GCSE specifications early for large cohorts or routinely require pupils to narrow their options early.
The strengthened phone guidance and curriculum reforms are intended to work together to protect time and attention for learning, while giving children more opportunities to read, speak, listen, connect and develop the confidence and skills to thrive.
A new consultation on technology in the classroom launching today will build on this work, to ensure clear parameters are met to give teachers, parents and pupils confidence that any technology used to help children’s learning meets world-leading robust safety standards.
The consultation will explore independent safety certification for EdTech, giving parents and schools confidence that new technology is safe while allowing responsible innovation to thrive.
From distraction-free school days to safer technology and a stronger focus on the skills that make us human, this is about getting the balance right.
Together, the strengthened phone guidance, curriculum reforms and work on safer technology aim to help every child focus, connect and flourish at school, with technology enhancing skills and development rather than replacing them.
