Phones to be banned from pupils' bags or pockets under stricter rules for schools in England

The government says it is strengthening its guidance for schools in England, which came into force in June. The new rules will make schools and trusts legally responsible for being phone-free throughout the day.

Pupils will not be allowed to have their phones on them at all during the school day under stricter government guidance in England.

Ministers now say changes to that guidance will go beyond the current 'no see, no hear' policies in place in some schools - where phones can remain in pupils' bags if they are not seen or heard - when it comes into force from September 2027. But head teachers' unions said schools would struggle to implement stricter new policies without additional funding from government.

Education Secretary Lucy Powell said the government's 'clear message' to parents and pupils was that 'school is for learning and friendship, not scrolling'. Access to phones 'risks pulling children away from their learning and from each other', the government said. School leaders have been advised to consider using sealed pouches or secure lockers to store phones.

Some schools provide pupils with lockable pouches for their phones while others collect phones at the start of the day, or prohibit them from sites altogether. The new rules apply to all schools in England and will come into force on September 1st, 2027.