Welsh Government to issue statutory guidance restricting school mobile phone use

The Welsh Government has announced plans to introduce statutory guidance restricting the use of mobile phones during the school day. The move seeks to establish a consistent national approach to digital distractions across all Welsh classrooms.

According to official plans, the government will issue guidance to strengthen and clarify expectations for phone use. This decision follows a workforce survey in which 82% of school staff expressed support for statutory national restrictions over the current system of individual school policies. To determine the exact nature of these restrictions, a public consultation is scheduled to begin in September.

The push for consistency

For years, headteachers in Wales have raised concerns regarding the negative impact of smartphones on student behavior and learning. While some institutions had already implemented their own bans, the absence of a national framework created a patchwork of inconsistent policies. The current initiative is part of a broader '100-day plan' designed to provide clearer national direction for the education sector.

Cabinet Minister for Education and Welsh Language Anna Brychan has signaled a hardline approach to the issue. "I want to be clear: as cabinet minister I fully support – and strongly encourage – head teachers to introduce clear and robust restrictions on mobile phone use during the school day up to and including a full restriction across the school site," Brychan stated.

Industry implications

The shift from optional, school-level decisions to statutory guidance removes significant ambiguity for both educators and parents. By standardizing expectations, the government aims to foster a safer learning environment with fewer distractions, ultimately improving student engagement and mental well-being.

Claire Armitstead, Director of ASCL Cymru, welcomed the move, noting that a common set of clear expectations shared between schools, parents, and pupils would be helpful for the sector. This transition reflects a wider trend across the UK; the move aligns with statutory guidance already issued by the UK Government to ban mobile phones in schools in England.

Next steps

Attention now turns to the September consultation, which will define the specific parameters of the restrictions. While the government has encouraged full site bans, the final statutory guidance will likely be shaped by the feedback gathered from the public and education professionals during the upcoming consultation period.