Pupils in England will no longer be allowed to keep mobile phones in their bags or pockets during the school day under tougher statutory guidance coming into force from September 2027. Schools will have to go beyond policies that allow devices to remain out of sight and unheard, the Department for Education (DfE) has announced.

Education Secretary Lucy Powell announced the changes on Sunday 9 November 2026, with schools encouraged to introduce the stricter approach before the formal start date. “Children should not be using smartphones at any point during the school day, full stop,” she said. “That’s why we’re strengthening our guidance to take the next leap towards truly phone-free schools.”

What schools will have to do

Under the revised guidance, schools should adopt whole-school strategies that keep phones out of use and inaccessible throughout the school day. Schools will be free to choose how they do this. The options include lockable phone pouches, secure lockers, collecting phones at the start of the day, or banning phones from the school site altogether.

The move tightens statutory guidance that has been in force since June 2026, which already says schools should be mobile-phone-free environments by default, with no access during lessons, between lessons, at breaktimes or at lunchtime. The government’s message to parents and pupils, Powell said, is that “school is for learning and friendship, not scrolling”.

Why the rules are changing

The DfE pointed to a survey carried out between June and July 2026 which found that only around 16 per cent of secondary school pupils believed mobile phone rules were followed all of the time. Ministers say access to phones risks pulling children away from their learning and from each other.

Some schools have already moved to stricter systems. Teacher Tapp data from September found that 39 per cent of secondary schools use mandatory collection policies, up from 19 per cent in 2025. The government also announced a review of safety standards for technology used in classrooms.

Cost concerns and what happens next

Headteachers’ unions have warned that implementation will require time and extra funding, because secure pouches typically cost about £20 to £25 each and schools will need new local policies and logistics. No dedicated funding package for the phone storage measures has been announced.

The rules apply in England; education is devolved, so the same timetable does not apply across the rest of the UK. The revised statutory guidance will be implemented from September 2027, with schools encouraged to move sooner where possible. Sources: Department for Education guidance on mobile phones in schools (GOV.UK) and TES.