Over 90% of Schools in England Ban Mobile Phone Use, Survey Shows

A national survey commissioned by England’s Children’s Commissioner, Rachel de Souza, reveals that 99.8% of primary schools and 90% of secondary schools in England have implemented bans on mobile phone use during school hours, The Guardian reported. The survey, covering over 15,000 schools, highlights varying approaches: most primary schools require phones to be handed in or banned entirely, while 79% of secondary schools allow possession but prohibit use.

Daniel Kebede, head of the National Education Union (NEU), has called for a statutory ban on phones in schools and a social media ban for under-16s, citing the “damaging impact” on young people’s mental health and exposure to harmful content. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson supports phone-free classrooms, emphasizing the need for consistent enforcement.

The survey also found that 23% of children aged 8-15 spend over four hours daily on devices, underscoring concerns about online harm and the need for stricter regulation of tech companies.