Drafting a School Smartphone Policy
A drafting guide for school smartphone policies covering total bans, restricted-use models, staff-led collection, secondary and primary differences, and SEND adjustments.
The Department for Education's guidance on mobile phones in schools is clear that headteachers should prohibit the use of mobile phones throughout the school day, but it leaves the implementation model to schools. This drafting guide compares the main implementation options — outright ban with phones left at home, on-site collection in lockers or pouches, and a restricted-use model where phones are kept switched off in bags — and gives schools the language to consult parents, communicate the policy, and enforce it consistently. It addresses the primary and secondary distinctions, the position on smartwatches and earbuds, and the reasonable adjustments needed for some pupils with SEND or medical needs.