Mobile Phones in School

20/01/2026

Dear Parents and Carers,

Following the Department for Education’s (DfE) announcement yesterday regarding a national move toward phone-free school environments, I am writing to update you on how St Mary's  will be implementing these new standards.

 

The New National Guidance

The government has made it clear that mobile phones have "no place in our schools." To ensure a consistent and focused environment for all children, the DfE has issued tougher guidance that expects all schools to be phone-free by default throughout the entire school day. This includes:

  • In-class lessons - we do not allow this 

  • The time between lessons - we do not allow this 

  • Break times and lunchtimes - we do not allow this 

Furthermore, Ofsted will now formally check the effectiveness of school mobile phone policies during every inspection to ensure they are being strictly enforced.

 

Why we are taking this step

Our priority is to create a calm, safe, and social environment where your child can learn without distraction. National data indicates that:

  • Reduced Distraction: Removing phones leads to a significant rise in educational outcomes and focus.

  • Mental Wellbeing: A phone-free day reduces the pressure of social media, infinite scrolling, and the risk of online bullying during school hours.

  • Social Interaction: We want our pupils to talk to one another, play, and develop face-to-face social skills rather than being "heads down" on a screen.

 

 All pupils must

  • Not bring in a phone unless they walk home alone and are in Years 5 & 6.

  • Hand in their phones to the teacher when they enter the classroom. The phones must be switched off and be stored safely by the teacher.

  • They may not be accessed until the end of the school day.

  • No phones are to be used on the playground at the start of the day. 

 

Support and Emergencies

We understand that many parents value their children having a phone for safety during the commute to and from school. We are not banning phones from being brought to school; we are ensuring they do not interfere with the school day.

  • Medical Needs: We will make sensible adjustments for pupils who require a mobile device for medical reasons (e.g., monitoring glucose levels). Please contact Mrs Roberts if this applies to your child.

 

Next Steps

We ask for your support in discussing this with your child at home to help them prepare for a phone-free school day.

 

Thank you for your continued partnership in making St Mary's a focused and happy place for every student.

 

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Rachel Tainsh

Headteacher