A countywide ban on student smartphone use moves a step closer

Devon County Councillors have endorsed the principle of banning smartphones during the school day from the start of the next academic year in September 2026.

The motion put forward at the Full Council meeting last week by Councillor Graham Bell, sought to reflect “the administration’s commitment to putting children’s wellbeing first”, with the aim of ensuring that nearly 40,000 pupils in Devon’s maintained schools are better protected from digital distraction, isolation and harm.

Councillors raised concerns that smartphones are a growing source of distraction which leads to a number of issues including bullying, sleep disruption and anxiety.

The County Council will support the Smartphone Free Childhood (SFC) campaign and will aim to carry out a consultation before the start of the Spring Term with results being analysed by February 2026.

While the Council does not have the authority to mandate policy implementation, it will actively encourage and support all schools, maintained, academies and independent, in developing and embedding mobile phone policies that align with the Department for Education’s expectations and promote a safe, focused, and inclusive learning environment.

The Department for Education ‘Mobile phones in schools February 2024’ provides guidance for schools on prohibiting the use of mobile phones throughout the school day.