The Government is facing a major legal challenge over its failure to ban smartphones in schools, as parents, lawyers and child safety campaigners warn that pupils are being exposed to an "epidemic" of sexual abuse, bullying and educational decline.
In a hard-hitting legal letter sent to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, a new parents' group - Generation Alpha CIC - accuses the Government of unlawfully failing to protect children from serious harm during the school day.
They are now demanding a judicial review of the Government's current safeguarding policy, and a mandatory ban on smartphones in all schools.
The group, founded by two fathers, says the current government guidance is "vague" and "dangerously inadequate", despite the Department for Education admitting that smartphones are being used by some children in school to sexually harass, bully, share pornography, and exploit peers.
Will Orr-Ewing, co-founder of Generation Alpha CIC, said the group had been forced into legal action by the scale of the harm taking place daily in classrooms, changing rooms and on school buses.
"Like so many parents across the country we are asking, how can it be legal to let a child bring a device to school which allows them to show another child violent pornography?" he said.
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'How can it be legal to let a child bring a device to school which allows them to show another child violent pornography?' Will Orr-Ewing said
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"Parents have told us about boys being filmed naked in the PE changing rooms and then shared across the school.
"Girls being manipulated by predators on messaging platforms during lessons and in school toilets.
"Tiny children being shown vile and graphic pornography by other kids on the school bus.
"A simple phone with no internet access allows us to keep in touch with our children. Adult smartphones are unnecessary and unsafe for children. It's a no-brainer to remove them from schools as quickly as possible."
The legal letter, drafted by Paul Conrathe and James Gardner of legal firm Conrathe Gardner LLP, lays out a devastating body of evidence that shows smartphones in schools are fuelling a surge in online harms.
Damning figures from their findings include:
- 79 per cent of young people have seen violent pornography before age 18 (Children's Commissioner)
- Sexual crimes against children committed online have risen by 400 per cent since 2013 (Commons Education Committee)
- One in five children has experienced online bullying - most of it at school (ONS)
'It's a no-brainer to remove smartphones from schools,' campaigners have said
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And vulnerable groups, including children in care, young carers and those with disabilities, are more likely to suffer from smartphone-related harms.
The case also highlights research from King's College London showing that one in four children use their phones in a way consistent with behavioural addiction.
Other studies link digital distraction to lower academic performance. Students distracted by others using digital devices in class scored 15 points lower in maths, equivalent to three-quarters of a year’s education lost.
The House of Commons Education Committee found that prolonged screen use reduces attention, memory, sleep quality, and social development in children aged 8-11.
Pete Montgomery, Generation Alpha CIC's other co-founder, revealed that freedom of information requests to 1,000 schools in England had uncovered shocking numbers of safeguarding incidents linked to smartphone use.
"One school passed 55 incidents to social services in the last academic year alone - 17 of those were referred to the police," he said. "A statutory ban is the only proportionate response to the reality of the threat posed by smartphones.
"The ubiquity of smartphones means headteachers need the full force of the law behind them to protect the school day from the harm we know these devices are doing."
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The case also highlights research from King's College London showing that one in four children use their phones in a way consistent with behavioural addiction
PA
The group says the DfE's current approach relies on non-binding guidance and leaves enforcement up to individual schools.
In February 2024, the Government issued non-statutory guidance suggesting schools could adopt a "never used, seen or heard" policy, but stopped short of mandating a ban.
The latest statutory guidance - Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), published in July 2025 - openly admits that children in school "sexually harass, bully, and control others via their mobile and smart technology", and that they "view and share pornography and other harmful content".
However, schools are merely advised to "reflect this" in their policies.
Simon Bailey CBE, former national child protection police lead, said: "While the KCSIE policy recognises the increasing role of mobile phones in safeguarding concerns... it fails to go far enough in providing clear, enforceable guidance for schools.
"Schools are on the frontline of child protection. The lack of a unified approach puts educators in a difficult position and leaves too much room for harmful incidents to occur."
The legal action is backed by doctors, child development experts and education professionals.
Arabella Skinner from Healthcare Professionals for Safer Screens said: "There is simply no justification for smartphones in schools.
"They are incredibly disruptive to children’s social wellbeing and their academic focus and attainment. We see these harms every day in clinics and classrooms."
She added: "Peer-to-peer sexting is now endemic among teens. A ban is not the whole solution, but it’s definitely part of it."
Generation Alpha CIC is seeking a declaration from the High Court that the Government's failure to ban smartphones in schools is unlawful
PAGeneration Alpha CIC is seeking a declaration from the High Court that the Government's failure to ban smartphones in schools is unlawful, and an order forcing the Department for Education to issue new national guidance mandating a ban.
James Gardner, solicitor for the claimants, said: "This is an issue of national importance. Most academics are clear that access to smartphones in schools damages our children and impedes their education. Schools that have done the right thing and introduced bans have seen astonishing benefits.
"Why won't the Government follow the evidence and introduce a mandatory ban?"
The Department for Education has been given 14 days to respond. If it fails to act, the matter is expected to go to court.
A Government spokesman said: "Schools already have the power to ban phones, and we support headteachers to take the necessary steps to prevent disruption, backed by our clear guidance on how to restrict their use.
"Even before the guidance was introduced, around 97 per cent of schools were restricting mobile phone use, but we know that there are wider issues with children’s online experiences, which is why we are also bringing in better protections from harmful content through the Online Safety Act."