Mobile phone use in schools

The Department for Education (DfE) has announced new non-statutory guidance for schools on the use of mobile phones.

This publication provides guidance to individual schools and trusts on how to implement a policy that prohibits the use of mobile phones throughout the school day, including during lessons, the time between lessons, breaktimes and lunchtime.

As a result, Ofsted inspectors will check mobile phone policies as part of their behaviour judgement, see their latest advice here.

The DfE has also launched a consultation on restricting children’s use of social media, which could ultimately lead to a ban for children under the age of 16.