NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union is calling on governments across the UK to introduce a statutory requirement for pupils to lock away mobile phones and other portable electronic communication devices for the duration of the school day, as evidence mounts that device‑related disruption, safeguarding risks and confrontations in classrooms are escalating.
While many headteachers have already introduced school‑level bans, the Union argues that non‑statutory guidance from the Department for Education for schools in England is insufficient and leaves schools exposed to inconsistency, parental challenge and escalating workload.
The Union emphasises that national frameworks must include appropriate exemptions for pupils with medical needs, special educational needs, or caring responsibilities, ensuring that no policy disadvantages vulnerable or marginalised children.
The NASUWT National Executive has endorsed a call for legislation requiring pupils to place their devices in lockable pouches or secure storage on arrival at school, ensuring they cannot be accessed without permission until the end of the day. This would apply across all UK nations, creating a consistent national expectation for pupils, parents and schools.
The Union advocates for a pilot scheme to learn best practice before restrictions become a legal requirement and for schools to receive funding for lockable storage solutions for mobile phones through the school day.
Matt Wrack, NASUWT General Secretary, said:
“Teachers are telling us that mobile phones have become one of the most persistent and damaging sources of disruption in schools. From interrupted learning and reduced concentration to confrontations when staff ask pupils to hand over devices, the situation has reached a critical point. Schools cannot be expected to manage this alone while the Government offers no meaningful support.
“Mere guidance and supportive words to schools from the Education Secretary is simply not enough. We want to see legislation introduced in all parts of the UK that makes it a legal requirement for pupils to use lockable pouches or similar storage devices when arriving at school, so they cannot access mobile phones during the school day without good reason and permission from their schools.
“Any move toward statutory restrictions must be grounded in clear evidence. We are calling for a properly funded pilot phase that assesses the experiences of students, teachers, support staff and families. We need to understand what works, what challenges arise, and how to ensure that no child is disadvantaged. A national policy across the UK can then be built on robust evaluation.
“Teachers want to teach and pupils deserve calm and focused classrooms free from disruption and doomscrolling. Wherever a child goes to school in the UK, the rules should be the same. Devices should be locked away during the school day, with clear, enforceable expectations that protect learning and safeguard pupils.”
