UCL Says 75% of Pupils Oppose England's School Phone Ban as 88% of Parents Back It
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 30
UCL Says 75% of Pupils Oppose England's School Phone Ban as 88% of Parents Back It
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 30
Summary
A UCL study of 732 secondary pupils found 75% viewed blanket school smartphone bans as punitive, published a day after England's statutory phone-free rule took effect.
The report said outright bans are overly simplistic and may fail because students rely on phones for homework apps, bus timetables, weather updates, communication and personal safety.
Teachers and parents backed tougher rules far more strongly—87% of teachers and 88% of parents supported a blanket ban—highlighting a sharp generational divide over disruption versus support.
Researchers also warned bans could push cyberbullying and sexual harassment further underground, while students said strict policies erode trust and often prompt workarounds such as breaking open locked pouches.
England's new law makes schools and academy trusts legally responsible for staying phone-free throughout the day, though the government says the ban is part of a broader online-safety push.