Schools should be 'phone-free' all day, education secretary tells teachers

Bridget Phillipson has told headteachers in a letter that phones should not be used for the entire school day, including as calculators, for research or during break times.

Monday 26 January 2026 09:35, UK

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Students should be banned from accessing phones for the duration of the entire school day, the education secretary has said.

Bridget Phillipson wrote to headteachers in England on Monday to tell them schools should be "phone-free environments".

The new edict dictates pupils should not use the devices as calculators, for research or during break time.

"All schools should be phone-free environments for the entire school day," Ms Phillipson said in the letter.

"That includes lessons, time between lessons, breaktimes and lunchtime. It means, for example, it is not appropriate for phones to be used as calculators, or for research during lessons.

"Schools should make sure those policies are applied consistently across classes and at all times and we want parents to back these policies too."

She added: You have my full support in taking this forward. Clear boundaries, applied with consistency and fairness, give pupils the best chance to learn and thrive, and schools should feel confident in setting and enforcing them."

Last week, the government issued updated guidance to schools on phone use, stressing pupils "should not have access to their devices during lessons, break times, lunch times, or between lessons".

Teachers have also been told not to use their phones in front of students.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) said it will take immediate action on children's social media use, including directing Ofsted to examine the mobile phone policies in place in schools and how effectively they are being implemented.

According to DSIT data, 99.9% of primary schools and 90% of secondary schools have mobile phone policies in place.

However, 58% of secondary school students reported mobile phones being used without permission in at least some lessons, rising to 65% for key stage four pupils.

It comes as the government begins a consultation on implementing an Australian-style social media ban for under-16s.

The consultation will look at options including raising the digital age of consent and restricting addictive app features such as infinite scrolling.

Ministers will visit Australia as part of the consultation, where a social media ban for under-16s came into force in December.

The government will seek views from parents and young people and will respond in the summer, the DSIT said.

Schools should be 'phone-free' all day, education secretary tells teachers

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