# Labour sets out plans for ‘truly phone-free’ classrooms

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/labour-sets-out-plans-for-truly-phone-free-classrooms/
- Published: 2026-11-10T05:52:52+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-10T06:21:09+00:00
- Original publisher: GB News (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.gbnews.com/politics/labour-phone-free-classroom-plans-education
- Topics: World

## Key points

- Labour will strengthen guidance on keeping phones inaccessible during the school day.
- Only 16 per cent of pupils said phone rules were always followed.
- School leaders say secure storage measures would need extra funding.

## Summary

Labour plans to strengthen guidance so schools in England can keep pupils’ smartphones inaccessible throughout the school day. Education Secretary Lucy Powell says classrooms should support learning and friendship, and the change responds to concerns that phones distract pupils.

Current guidance calls for schools to be phone-free by default but does not specify enforcement. A Department for Education survey in June found only 16 per cent of pupils said phone rules were always followed. Some schools use lockable pouches or collect phones, but headteachers’ unions say secure storage requirements would need extra funding; the Government is also consulting on safety certification for education technology.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.