Should We Ban Phones in Schools? Why Listening to Your Pupils, Parents and Staff Matters More Than Ever

A new national survey by the Children’s Commissioner for England, based on nearly 19,000 schools and colleges, has made this clear: schools comply with policy guidance, but uncertainty remains about what works. According to the Commissioner, decisions about phone use in schools should be left to head teachers rather than enforced through national government policy. With this responsibility now firmly in the hands of school leaders, it’s more important than ever that the voices of those most affected guide decisions. Listening to pupils, parents, and staff can help ensure your policy is evidence-informed, understood, and supported by your school community. You can read more in this BBC article (10 April 2025).

That’s where Edurio can help. Our new  Phone Use in Schools surveys are designed to help school leaders understand how phone use is experienced across the school community and how those affected feel about potential changes. With these insights, you can approach this decision with confidence, evidence, and the backing of your school community.

What the national survey reveals

The Children’s Commissioner’s School Phone Policies Survey offers a detailed snapshot of how mobile phone policies are being implemented and how concerns are evolving.

Most schools already limit phone use during the day

• 99.8% of primary and 90% of secondary schools have a mobile phone policy limiting pupils’ use during the school day. 

(Children’s Commissioner, 2025, p. 6, p. 13)

Phones are typically stored securely or kept out of sight

• 76% of primary schools require pupils to hand in their phone or leave it in a secure place that they cannot access during the day. 
• 79% of secondary schools allow pupils to bring mobile phones to school, as long as they are kept out of sight and not used during the day. 

(Children’s Commissioner, 2025, p. 14)

Complete bans are rare

• 21% of primary schools do not allow pupils to bring their mobile phones to school at all. 
• Only 3.5% of secondary schools enforce a complete ban (i.e. not allowed on site). 

(Children’s Commissioner, 2025, p. 14)

Behaviour concerns, not online safety, drive stricter rules

• Schools with stricter mobile phone policies are more likely to report concerns about behaviour.
• There is no similar correlation between stricter policies and concern about online safety.

(Children’s Commissioner, 2025, p. 7)

Policy is being made, but is it informed?

The survey shows a pattern: stricter policies tend to follow behaviour challenges. However, schools with serious online safety concerns aren’t necessarily tightening restrictions in the same way.

This suggests that many policies are reactive rather than strategic.

While the government has offered non-statutory guidance, the Children’s Commissioner has emphasised that decisions about phone use should be made by schools themselves, not through blanket national bans.

The question is: What information are school leaders using to guide those decisions?

Why hearing from your school community matters

Edurio’s Phone Use in Schools surveys are designed to give you insights from within your own school community.

With input from staff, pupils and parents, the surveys explore:

• Pupil focus and distraction: how often phones interrupt learning.
• Behavioural issues linked to phone use in lessons and at break.
• Staff workload and stress, including how much time is spent managing phone-related incidents.
• Parental expectations, especially around contacting children in emergencies.
• Attitudes towards a full ban or alternative solutions.

This isn’t just data collection. It’s the foundation for informed, community-backed decision-making.

What schools can do with the results

Once you’ve heard from your school community, you’ll be better equipped to:

• Evaluate how well your current phone policy is working in practice.
• Identify and address specific behaviour or distraction issues.
• Review workload concerns and provide support to staff.
• Tailor your communication with parents to build understanding and alignment.
• Lead a local response that reflects your context, not a one-size-fits-all approach.

In short, you’ll be able to act confidently, backed by evidence and stakeholder voice.

Beyond the school gates: a bigger conversation

As the Children’s Commissioner points out, banning phones during school hours doesn’t solve everything, especially when children go home to hours of unfiltered screen time.

In fact, YouGov polling shows that nearly one in four children aged 8 to 15 spends more than four hours a day on internet-connected devices, and 45% of children aged 8 to 17 have experienced harmful content online.

Schools are part of the solution but not the whole solution. That’s why it’s crucial to engage with parents, start informed conversations, and empower families with the knowledge to set boundaries at home, too.

Take the first step

Whether you’re considering a full phone ban, refining your current approach, or simply want to ensure your policy is still fit for purpose, now is the time to listen.

Edurio’s Phone Use in Schools surveys are quick to launch, easy to use, and designed with the complexity of your role in mind. Let’s ensure your school’s next step is built on real insight.