UK Government Moves to Make School Mobile Phone Bans Mandatory Through Legislation

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 02:34:00 +0200

The UK government is planning to introduce a قانونی ban on mobile phones in schools across England as part of a broader effort to pass significant child protection legislation. The measure will be added as an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which has faced delays in the House of Lords due to opposition concerns. By making existing guidance on restricting mobile phone use legally binding, the government aims to secure enough support to move the bill forward.

Until now, ministers had resisted formal legislation, arguing that most schools had already implemented their own policies limiting or banning phone use during school hours. However, the government has now shifted its position, describing the move as a “pragmatic measure” necessary to ensure the broader bill’s passage.

The legislation itself is considered one of the most significant child welfare reforms in decades. In addition to the mobile phone ban, it includes several major initiatives: the creation of