Debates over mobile phones in schools have exploded in recent years. As of 2022, almost 1 in 4 countries introduced laws, policies or guidelines that either mandate or advise schools to ban smartphones during the school day.

In part, public demand has fuelled the desire for change. Technology is our future, yet parents are seeing the negative impacts on wellbeing, learning and social relationships at home. Today, 89% of 12-year-olds here in the UK own a smartphone. This easy accessibility results in distraction and addiction, with the concern from parents understandable.

• 94% of primary school parents think smartphones are harmful
• 70% of parents believe smartphones negatively impact family life
• 33% of parents have cried over their child’s phone obsession

Perhaps even more telling are the stats on what children think about their own phone use.

• 67% of 16–18-year-olds think smartphones are harmful
• 1 in 5 of 16–18-year-olds have felt “life is not worth living” due to social media
• 50% of teens say they are “addicted” to social media

Despite this, almost all school children own a smartphone by their first year of secondary or high school, with the peer pressure involved in school life only increasing the desire.

Below, we look further at how schools are implementing phone bans, and why lockable phone pouches have become the popular solution.

The facts: why ban phones from schools?

Many schools already have informal bans on phones, but as a result many school children look at them during class time – a US study finding phones are being picked up an average of 51 times a day.

Another study found that it can take students up to 20 minutes to refocus on what they were learning after engaging in a non-academic activity.

Meanwhile, in the UK a study concluded that banning mobile phones from schools had the equivalent effect of giving pupils an extra week’s education over an academic year. A Spanish study also found a link with improved grades, with their study suggesting students received the equivalent of 0.6 – 0.8 years of learning in maths.

Support for phone bans in schools aren’t just for academic reasons though. There are concerns with mobile phones being observed as a tool for bullying and harassment, with incidents also being filmed to be put on social media. Findings by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that 72% of children who experienced online bullying behaviour endured at least some of it at school or during school time.

The improvements from implementing a phone-free space are therefore numerous:

• Removes distraction, increasing focus
• Increases test scores and Ofsted ratings
• Creates a safe-space, protecting from cyber-bullying
• Reduces anxiety from pressure to own an expensive smartphone
• Positive impact on wellbeing, and face-to-face interaction
• Increases physical activity during breaks

What are phone ban policies across the world?

In the UK, England moved in line with other countries in 2024 to issue guidance on prohibiting mobile devices in schools. With many schools having already implemented bans, the idea of the guidance was to encourage a consistent approach.

The approach is similar in Scotland, where schools and councils are allowed to introduce their own restrictions and limitations.

Over in Northern Ireland, guidance issued also included the launch of pilot schemes, including the use of lockable pouches for smartphones, sealed at the start of the school day, and then unlocked by a magnetic unlocking base.

In France, the law has prevented children up to the age of 15 from using their phones inside school grounds since 2018.

In the United States, at least 18 states have passed laws or enacted policies that ban or restrict students’ use of phones in schools.

In the Netherlands, a mobile phone ban was implemented over the course of 2024. Again, the onus was on schools to make their own decisions on how their ban is implemented.

Back in 2021, China’s education ministry banned mobiles from schools unless there was written parental consent.

From the start of 2025, both Belgium’s French and German speaking sides were unified in country-wide ban in schools.

In Germany, different states are taking different approaches. Recently, Health Commissioners have called on Berlin’s city senate to ban phones from the school day entirely, rather than the more informal guidance currently in place.

Over in Brazil, some schools began banning phones in 2023, but in January 2025, the President signed a bill restricting smartphones across all schools.

Italy already has a strong policy, with use of mobile phones in the classroom banned even for educational purposes between pre-school and secondary school.

Hungary also implemented a nationwide ban in 2024, despite protestations. Sweden says mobile phones are not allowed in classrooms (unless there are learning purposes), but reports suggest they wish to go further. Currently, Denmark, Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Portugal among others are considering some form of restriction on smartphones and devices.

How can mobile phone use by students be prevented?

There’s a range of ways schools across the world have tried to implement the ban. From insisting smartphones are placed in bags, lockers, or given to the teacher, whilst others focus on the consequences if found using a phone during lessons.

These ways present a few issues, namely:

• Difficulty in policing;
• Potential conflict between teachers and students;
• Liability issues if phones are lost or broken, and;
• Issues dealing with repeat offenders.

It’s for these reasons why schools are following Northern Ireland’s suggestion of using lockable phone pouches, which are only unlocked after the school day. They work well because:

• Students keep possession of their phone;
• Teachers don’t need to inspect or search, and;
• It’s consistent and fair for all pupils.

Below is an image showing how the Phone Locker pouches work.

How can schools ensure a phone ban succeeds?

To get pupils to ‘buy-in’ it’s important to consider how you will convey the message – going phone-free isn’t a “punishment”; it’s to benefit their learning and social life.

Highlight the benefits

A mobile phone provides access to friends, entertainment and intrigue, so its important students understand the harm of overdosing on smartphones, otherwise resentment is inevitable. Covering the benefits of reducing screen time and educating them on online risks helps build trust that this move is going to be positive.

Similarly, there could be issues with parents unable to contact their children at any time of the day. A similar delivery will be required to highlight how smartphones are impacting education and wellbeing, as being consistent at home is also important.

A consistent approach

Your school’s Behaviour Policy – if it doesn’t already – needs to have clear expectations when it comes to mobile phone use. As well as consequences in place when these expectations aren’t followed. If the policy isn’t communicated and actively enforced, its demands will be ignored.

Likewise, there can’t be one “cool” teacher that undermines everyone else! Leaving it to teachers to make their own rules means a phone-free school (and the resulting benefits) is unlikely to ever be achieved.

How successful are lockable pouches?

Banning phones at school with no clear method makes it very difficult to police. Can you really trust a teenager to leave their phone in their bag?

The problem is solved with lockable pouches – supplied by the likes of Phone Locker and Yondr – where each child has their own pouch. The smartphone is inserted into this pouch and can only be unlocked at a station located at the school exits. If your school allows mobile phone use for educational purposes, or at break times, teachers can also have hand-held unlocking magnets for temporary access.

Working with Phone Locker

Here at Phone Locker, we’ve helped hundreds of schools implement mobile phone bans with the help of our lockable phone pouches. We even provide support material to help you get started with communicating your policy, helping you to gain vital momentum.

To discuss your school’s needs in more detail, get in touch with the Phone Locker team by sending an email, or call us on +44(0)203 161 8121.