Mobile phone guidance in schools

From 29 June 2026 the DfE mobile phone guidance in schools became statutory, with schools needing to follow it from 1 September 2026.

The statutory guidance to individual schools and trusts should be considered alongside the behaviour in schools guidance which supports schools in establishing calm, safe and supportive environments conducive to teaching and keeping children safe in education, it covers the following:

• Prohibiting the use of mobile phones in school
• Implementing a policy on prohibiting the use of mobile phones
• Communicating the policy to pupils and parents
• The role of staff
• Expectations for pupils
• The role of parents
• The use of sanctions
• Searching pupils
• Adaptations and reasonable adjustments
• The use of mobile phones outside the school day.