UK School Leaders & Safeguarding on Legal Smartphone Ban Policies

Today the House of Lords is back on familiar territory, debating whether smartphones should be banned in schools as part of the wider Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill and the growing push to reshape children’s relationship with phones and social media. Behind that headline is a much more nuanced reality: A new House of Commons Library briefing shows that in England there is still no statutory ban, but schools are expected to prohibit mobile and smart device use during the day through their behaviour policies, while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are each taking slightly different routes on restriction and local discretion. The research is equally uncomfortable. UNESCO, OECD, WHO and others link phones to distraction, behaviour issues, bullying and mental health concerns, yet some international data suggests simple bans do not automatically translate into better results or wellbeing. In my article I look at this through a risk lens and the “5 Ts” of risk response, including an option many leaders are now considering: - Banning smartphones, but still allowing basic brick phones for emergency contact. If you are in school leadership, safeguarding or governance: 1. Where do you stand on a legal smartphone ban in schools? 2. What is your current phone policy in practice, not just on paper? 3. Have you seen any clear shift in behaviour, learning or wellbeing? #mentalhealth #technologyrisk #risktreatment #education #politics