Responding to reports the Government will seek to make phone bans in schools statutory by introducing an amendment in the House of Lords to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, NASUWT General Secretary Matt Wrack said:

“This is a significant victory for the NASUWT’s long‑running campaign to give schools stronger national backing to restrict mobile phone use. Teachers, pupils and parents have been calling for clarity for years, and we are pleased that ministers have finally listened.

“Statutory guidance is a necessary step, but it is not sufficient on its own to address the significant problems our members face daily from mobile phones and connected devices. The current non‑statutory guidance was never designed to be implemented on a statutory basis and was not subject to public consultation. It is essential that any new statutory guidance is developed with unions and other legitimate stakeholders from the outset.

“We have been clear that the Government should pilot different approaches before imposing statutory requirements. Evidence from pilots would allow the best practice to be identified and adopted across all schools, ensuring that any national framework is grounded in what actually works in the classroom.

“There will also be practical and financial implications for schools. We have highlighted the potential of lockable pouches as a promising approach to managing connected devices. Early feedback from settings using them is encouraging, but if this becomes part of national expectations, the associated costs cannot simply be pushed onto already overstretched school budgets.

“Today’s announcement is welcome but the Government must now work with the profession to ensure that any statutory guidance is evidence‑based, properly consulted on and fully funded. Our priority is ensuring that teachers have the support they need to create calm, safe and focused learning environments for every child.”