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Union Leader Pushes for Statutory Mobile Phone Ban in English Schools

Daniel Kebede of the NEU calls for government action to address online harms, despite most schools already enforcing phone restrictions.

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Overview

  • A survey of over 15,000 schools reveals that 99.8% of primary schools and 90% of secondary schools in England already enforce mobile phone restrictions during the school day.
  • National Education Union leader Daniel Kebede advocates for a statutory ban, citing concerns about children accessing harmful online content, including pornography, on their phones.
  • Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza supports school-level autonomy on phone bans but emphasizes the need for stronger regulation of harmful online content beyond schools.
  • Research highlights that nearly a quarter of children in England spend more than four hours a day on internet-enabled devices, raising concerns about excessive screen time and mental health impacts.
  • Government officials maintain that current non-statutory guidance is effective, with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson emphasizing headteachers' autonomy in enforcing bans.