Ofsted to check school mobile phone bans are enforced

Ofsted is to begin checking school mobile phone policy on every inspection, with schools expected to be phone-free by default.

This follows the launch of a consultation to identify the next steps in the government’s plan to ensure children have a healthy relationship with mobile phones and social media. 

Tougher guidance for schools on mobile phones will make it even clearer that schools need to be phone-free environments and that pupils should not have access to their devices during lessons, break times, lunch times, or between lessons. 

Ofsted will examine both schools’ mobile phone policies and how effectively they are implemented when judging behaviour during inspections. Schools that are struggling will get one-to-one support from Attendance and Behaviour Hub schools that are already effectively implementing phone bans.  

The guidance will be implemented through behaviour management in schools, and by setting out clear expectations for teachers and school staff – including that staff should not use their own mobile phones for personal reasons in front of pupils, setting an example that mobile phones are not necessary in the classroom. 

The social media consultation will look at options including raising the digital age of consent, implementing phone curfews to avoid excessive use, and restricting potentially addictive design features such as ‘streaks’ and ‘infinite scrolling’.  

It will also look at removing or limiting functionalities which drive addictive or compulsive use of social media, such as ‘infinite scrolling’.

Evidence from around the world will be examined on a wide range of suggested proposals, including looking at whether a social media ban for children would be effective and if one was introduced how best to make it work. Ministers will visit Australia to learn first-hand from their approach.  

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: "We have been clear that mobile phones have no place in our schools but now we’re going further through tougher guidance and stronger enforcement. 

"Our Attendance and Behaviour Hubs will support schools that are struggling to effectively implement phone bans so all our children can learn in phone-free environments."