- The Department for Education is set to introduce stricter guidance requiring schools in England to make mobile phones inaccessible to pupils throughout the school day.
- Under the new rules taking effect in September, keeping phones hidden in bags will no longer be sufficient, requiring devices to be locked away or collected.
- A DfE survey revealed that only 16 per cent of secondary school pupils report that existing 'not seen, not heard' phone policies are followed at all times.
- Headteachers' unions warned that implementing robust measures like lockable pouches will be unfeasible unless the government provides additional funding.
- While schools will decide how to enforce the ban, some leaders suggest allowing basic brick phones while prohibiting smartphones completely.
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