Oppose proposed statutory requirement that schools store or pouch smartphones
The Government should commit to not mandate nationwide phone storage systems in schools. The high profile movement to make this statutory should face proper scrutiny, in terms of costings, for example, and, instead, the far better alternative of banning smartphones from school premises be considered
- 06 JAN 2026Petition rejectedno-action
There are currently no reported Government plans to introduce statutory requirements for schools to store or 'pouch' phones. The current non-statutory guidance says that schools may develop their own policies to implement a no phones in schools rule. The guidance suggests the following systems that could be adopted: No mobile phones allowed on the school premises Mobile phones handed in on arrival Mobile phones kept in secure location, which pupils do not access throughout the school day Pupils may keep their phones but they are “never used, seen or heard You can find out more in this House of Commons Library note: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10241/ We could accept a petition calling for the Government to ban schools from storing mobile phones, if that's something that you'd like to see.
- 24 NOV 2025Petition created