Mobile Phones To Be Banned In Schools In England Under New Plans (theguardian.com)
- Reference: 0181813776
- News link: https://mobile.slashdot.org/story/26/04/20/2014246/mobile-phones-to-be-banned-in-schools-in-england-under-new-plans
- Source link: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/20/mobile-phones-statutory-ban-schools-england-bill-amendment
> A ban on mobile phones in schools in England is to be introduced by the government to ensure that "critical safeguarding legislation" is passed. The government will table an amendment to the children's wellbeing and schools bill in the House of Lords after the bill was held up by peers on opposition benches. It will make [1]existing guidance on mobile phone bans in schools statutory , a move that ministers have resisted until now.
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> The government had consistently argued that the vast majority of schools had already banned mobile phones, and that there was no need to add a legal requirement. They finally capitulated, however, describing it as "a pragmatic measure" to get the bill through. [...] The bill is regarded by many as the biggest piece of child protection legislation in decades and includes proposals for a compulsory register for children who are not in school, a crackdown on profiteering in children's social care, and a "single unique identifier" to help agencies track a child's welfare.
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/20/mobile-phones-statutory-ban-schools-england-bill-amendment
Good (Score:5, Insightful)
It will help the kids learn by being less distracted.
Not really (Score:2)
So the problem we have with schools is they are underfunded so classes are crowded and teachers don't have enough time to spend on lesson plans let alone individual students and we also put too many laptops in the schools when it turns out if you want to learn pen and paper is pretty much how you do it.
Also there is some indication that infinite scrolling and social media algorithms fuck with kids brains and weird ways but we can't talk about that because that would involve regulating companies owned by
Re: (Score:2)
Funding in other countries differs massively than in the USA.
The fact that funding in the USA depends on race, religion, if you are red/blue, etc etc etc is complete BS.
Funding should be by pupil, same amount no matter where you are, who you are
The USA is Fk'd, its so broken I doubt its worth saving.
Bold move, but jolly good! (Score:5, Insightful)
Study after study shows kids do better in school, are more engaged, and more social when phones are out of the picture. 'Social' media is exactly the opposite, it's isolating and anxiety inducing for a lot of teens.
I think there's a lot of adults I know who might be better off too. I definitely have some friends / colleagues who waste so much time on it, and it mostly just seems to make them anxious or irate -- but as far as the platforms are considered, who cares as long as they're 'engaged' with it...
Re: (Score:1)
Still plenty of time to rot their brains outside of school hours.
Re: Bold move, but jolly good! (Score:2)
I agree, but like any kind of prisoner, they find a way around the system. iPads aren't banned, but still can do messaging and social media. Other issues include college courses requiring MFA, which is always a cell phone authentication app or text.
Re:In other news (Score:4, Informative)
> as students can't call for help.
On their way to and from school, pupils/students have their mobile phones, so there is no change in their ability to call for help on the public street. Inside school, they can call the staff for help.
Also you're missing that this policy isn't new. The only change is will become compulsory for the 0.2% primary schools and 10% secondary schools who still hadn't banned mobile phones.
TFA:
> Research from the children's commissioner for England last year found that 99.8% of primary schools and 90% of secondary schools already had policies in place that limited or restricted the use of mobile phones during the school day.
The policy: [1]https://www.gov.uk/government/... [www.gov.uk]
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mobile-phones-in-schools/mobile-phones-in-schools
Re: (Score:2)
The old guidance had "not seen, not heard" as a possible policy in the guidance. Only the most recent guidance made forbidding possession the clear default, likely triggered by the opposition amendment.
Re: (Score:2)
> Kids under say 16 shouldn't have "smart" phones.
Here in the US, you can get a learner's permit at 14 in a few states, and in the vast majority of states at 15 (with a few outliers at 16). I'm really not seeing how a freakin' car is somehow more age-appropriate than a smartphone. Anything you don't want your kid to access on a smartphone can be locked down with parental controls. Can't really say the same about sending 'em off into the real world with a vehicle.
Burying the lede (Score:2)
> The government had consistently argued that the vast majority of schools had already banned mobile phones
Assuming this is true, headline is a no-op. However,
> The bill is regarded by many as the biggest piece of child protection legislation in decades and includes proposals for a compulsory register for children who are not in school, a crackdown on profiteering in children's social care, and a "single unique identifier" to help agencies track a child's welfare.
Re: (Score:2)
> ... unique identifier ...
I think they did this years ago, as a means of proving the education (stream) a child received. This suggests, a second identifier will be a de facto SSN.
Re: (Score:2)
Not at all, it will simply be an education ID that they can use if they shift schools etc etc etc.
And its likely only of use during primary/secondary schooling, tertiary schooling will be different.
And this will be different to the health ID, different to their driver ID, different to their tax ID, different to their passport ID, etc etc etc etc
Re: (Score:2)
Different ... and all tied back to NIN (or the "it's not a NIN" number before they hand it out officially at 16, in the database it's all the same).
Re: (Score:2)
Do you KNOW that, or is this you paranoia showing. >
And if its already that way, what change has ben made ?
Ban Phones at Lunch and Between Classes (Score:3, Informative)
The current generation is socially isolated, lonely and scared. The reason is phones provide a bubble that lets kids hide from the awkwardness of talking to the kid sitting beside them on the bus or at lunch. But, without those awkward moments kids don't develop friendships and social skills. Those are far more important than academic skills. The very fabric of life is at stake.
Re: (Score:2)
I think some schools do ban phones during what should be students' "free" time. That's great if your goal is to send a message that you can't trust them to be responsible with their device usage after laying down rules as to when it is and isn't appropriate to use their phones. Also, making something into contraband almost never backfires. /s
Re: (Score:2)
I dont see an issue with that, as UK schools also ban a lot of other things during "free time" (its not actually time without restriction), for example leaving the school grounds for most of the school body (when you get into sixth form, you gain more freedoms as you are deemed to be there voluntarily).
Re: (Score:2)
Oooh... they "banned" cell phones! Are they searching the kids on the way in, or do they just assume the kids simply won't break the rule and have their phone on silent in a pants pocket?
Easier to just wrap the building in copper mesh... if the parent(s) need(s) to get ahold of the kid, they can call the school.
I don't think my kid needs a thousand dollar iPhone... maybe a limited flip phone.
Back to slide rules and log tables (Score:2)
Are they banning calculators as well?
Re: (Score:2)
They should. Calculators have no place in school.
Anecdotal evidence (Score:3)
The Province of Quebec banned cell phones in schools in January 2024, and teachers (I sometimes work in schools) have told me that they see significant improvement, with fewer distractions and more personal interactions between students.
Re: (Score:2)
> more personal interactions between students.
That a euphemism for swirlies in the public toilets?
single unique identifier (Score:2)
I have no issue with banning phones in schools but the single unique identifier thing makes my blood run cold. The state does not own the children.
Re: (Score:2)
No one said they did. This is no different to a drivers licence where it can include the classes of vehicles you are permitted to drive, you do not require a unique drivers licence for each vehicle.
Re: (Score:2)
They get a national insurance number when registered as born already ... but in true British fashion, they will probably just make a new number (and then tie it back to NIN any way, the one number to rule them all).
Re: (Score:3)
Its England, not New England. They'll be just fine.
A new National ID Card to track people (Score:2)
Generating a new national ID number ("single unique identifier) for students is the headline here.
"The bill is regarded by many as the biggest piece of child protection legislation in decades and includes proposals for a compulsory register for children who are not in school, a crackdown on profiteering in children’s social care, and a “single unique identifier” to help agencies track a child ’s welfare."
So they add a new government ID number for each student which most likely is:
- Fr
Re: (Score:2)
> Its England
Stabbed. Not shot.