Preserve secondary schools’ freedom to set their own mobile phone policies

Rejected 14 signatures

What the petition asks

The Government plans to force English schools to ban mobile phone use.
We believe this is excessive and unnecessary, severely limits opportunities for schools to educate children on responsible use, and stifles academic research.
We call on the Government to exclude secondary schools from the ban.

Non-statutory guidance issued in 2024 by the Conservative Government recommended that all schools ban mobile phone use.

In secondary schools, blanket bans have little to no impact on pupil wellbeing, attainment or behaviour:
https://doi.org/q37x

Mobile phones can support the wellbeing of vulnerable children at school:
https://doi.org/q37w

The Government must adopt a more holistic approach, and ensure that young people are heard and taken seriously, not merely used as a “political football”.

Why it was rejected

There was already a petition about this issue. Duplicates are rejected so signatures collect in one place.

You may wish to sign this petition which calls for the same action:

Reverse the ban on phones in schools
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/765474

Timeline

23 Apr 2026	Petition opened for signatures
27 May 2026	Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 14

Status Rejected

Rejected 27 May 2026

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