School Mobile Phone Policies: What Ofsted Will Expect from April 2026

This follows updated guidance from the Department for Education, which sets out a clear expectation. Schools should be mobile phone-free environments by default. There is still flexibility in how schools approach this, but inspectors will expect to see a clear rationale that explains the decisions taken.

Most schools have a phone policy. But is it applied consistently?

Most schools already restrict phone use in some way, as we discussed in an earlier blog post last year. But a policy is only as effective as its implementation.

In Edurio’s Phone Use in Schools survey, we often see a gap between what a school’s policy says and how it is experienced day to day. Pupils may report different interpretations of when and where phones are allowed. Staff may not always feel confident in enforcing the rules consistently across lessons or key stages.

These small gaps in understanding can lead to friction, especially when expectations are unclear or shift without proper communication.

Common challenges with school phone policies

For any policy to be effective, people need to understand it, believe in it and apply it consistently. That requires more than writing a statement or sending a letter home.

When schools review or tighten their mobile phone policies, a similar set of challenges often emerges. The difference between schools that feel confident under inspection and those that feel exposed is whether these challenges are understood and evidenced, rather than assumed.

Edurio’s Phone Use in Schools survey for staff, pupils and parents helps schools move beyond anecdote by gathering structured insight from pupils, staff and parents. The table below shows how common challenges link directly to the questions included in the survey.

Rather than guessing where tensions might exist, schools can use this evidence to understand how their policy is experienced day to day, where expectations are aligned, and where further clarity or communication is needed.

Why phone policy evidence matters under new Ofsted guidance

With the updated guidance in place and changes to inspection practice from April 2026, schools will be expected to explain not only what their phone policy is, but why it works.

If staff apply the policy differently across departments, or if pupils feel the rules are unclear or unfair, inspectors are likely to pick that up through conversations and classroom visits. If the rationale for your approach is not well understood across your community, you may be asked to explain it.

By using evidence from pupils, staff and parents, schools can show that their phone policy is not reactive or imposed. It is intentional, informed, and grounded in the realities of their school.

Reviewing your school’s phone policy? Start with your community’s voice

As expectations around mobile phone use continue to sharpen, understanding how your policy works in practice has never been more important.

 👉 Phone Use in Schools survey