UK faces pressure to follow New Zealand’s school phone ban
UK faces pressure to follow New Zealand’s school phone ban
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is under growing pressure to consider a nationwide ban on mobile phones in schools, following New Zealand’s implementation of a similar policy, The Independent reported. New Zealand’s education minister, Erica Stanford, told The Independent the ban has led to more student engagement, reduced cyberbullying, and improved classroom focus.
Introduced last year, the policy requires students to keep phones off and away during school hours, with limited exceptions for learning needs or health. New Zealand’s government is now exploring a broader ban on social media use for under-16s. Educators in the country have reported positive changes, including increased social interaction and improved academic performance.
In the UK, efforts by the Conservative Party to mandate a school phone ban through an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill were rejected by the Labour government. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch argued that only a small fraction of UK schools are truly phone-free.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has since commissioned a review into existing school phone policies and their effectiveness. The debate continues amid wider global discussions on youth mental health and screen time, with experts like US psychologist Jonathan Haidt backing phone-free school environments.
