Phones to be banned from pupils' pockets and bags in English schools from September 2027

Pupils in England will not be allowed to keep their phones on them at any point during the school day under stricter government guidance, going further than the "no see, no hear" rules that let phones stay in bags as long as they are out of sight.

The change, announced on 9 November and reported by BBC News, will come into force from September 2027. Statutory guidance that came in this June already makes schools and academy trusts legally responsible for being phone-free throughout the day.

"School is for learning and friendship, not scrolling"

The Education Secretary, Lucy Powell, said the government's "clear message" to parents and pupils was that "school is for learning and friendship, not scrolling". The government said access to phones "risks pulling children away from their learning and from each other".

Schools will be able to decide how to follow the guidance. Some have invested in sealed pouches or secure lockers, some collect phones at the start of the day, and others ban them from the site altogether.

A welcome from campaigners

Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children's Commissioner for England, said she welcomed strong action to stop phones distracting pupils and disrupting the school day.

Charlotte Ashton, co-founder of the campaign group Generation Focus, said "no see, no hear" policies were not working and pupils were still "TikToking in the toilets".

"Ultimately, we need to get to a point where it's not normal for every single child to have a personal internet-enabled device in their pockets with them 24/7," she said.

The Shadow Education Secretary, Laura Trott, said she was "delighted" the government had agreed to properly ban smartphones in schools, though she criticised what she called a lack of "joined up thinking" over the new technology being allowed in classrooms. The government has also announced a review of safety standards for technology used in schools.

Heads warn of the cost

School leaders broadly support the aim but are worried about paying for it. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders' union, said phones could raise "safety issues" and be an "unhelpful distraction", but that the more robust measures would "come at a cost".

Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the guidance "does at least provide some clarity", but warned that if every school had to provide lockable pouches or secure storage for every pupil, "the cost involved will be very significant indeed."

What it means for Birmingham families

Many Birmingham schools already restrict phones during the day, so for some families little will change. For others, the new rules will mean phones being handed in, locked away or left at home. With almost two years before the change takes effect, schools have time to plan, and parents can expect to hear from their child's school about how it will work.

Education is devolved, so the rules apply to England only. Scotland plans its own law, while Wales has decided against a national statutory ban.