Mobile phones in schools
How schools can prohibit the use of mobile phones throughout the school day.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
Revised guidance for 2026
DfE published revised guidance on mobile phones in schools in January 2026. We advise schools to start using this guidance from April 2026.
‘Mobile phones in schools’ explains how to develop, implement and maintain a policy that prohibits the use of mobile phones in school.
‘Communicating your policy for prohibiting the use of mobile phones in schools to parents’ has guidance on how to communicate with parents about your policy and facts and figures to support discussions.
‘Creating a mobile phone-free environment: school case studies’ gives examples of how primary and secondary schools have successfully implemented a mobile phone free-school environment.
This guidance should be read alongside the guidance on:
It is for:
- multi-academy trusts
- trust boards and proprietors
- governing bodies
- school leaders and staff
- local authorities
It applies to all:
- maintained schools
- academies
- free schools
- non-maintained special schools
- independent schools
Updates to this page
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We have updated the guidance on 'Mobile phones in schools', replaced the 'Mobile phones in schools: toolkit for schools' with 'Communicating your policy for prohibiting the use of mobile phones in schools to parents' and added additional case studies.
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First published.