England schools to keep pupils’ phones inaccessible throughout the school day

Schools in England will be expected to keep pupils’ phones inaccessible throughout the school day under updated statutory guidance taking effect next September. The change is intended to end “not seen, not heard” policies, which allowed phones to remain in bags, and support learning and social interaction.

Schools will need either to impose a complete ban or provide secure pouches or lockers. A survey found only 16 per cent of secondary pupils said phone rules were always followed; separate polling found 40 per cent of children aged nine to 16 had turned down real-world opportunities to spend time online. The Government is also consulting on independent safety certification for classroom education apps, prompting criticism from the Conservatives over its technology policies.