The Department of Education has confirmed the introduction of a statutory ban on mobile phones in schools through changes to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
The proposed change would transform current advisory guidance into binding legislation, requiring all schools to prohibit pupils from using mobile devices during the school day.
Under existing rules, schools are encouraged to implement phone bans, but the decision ultimately rests with individual headteachers who retain the authority to disregard the recommendations.
The legislative change would remove this discretion, establishing a uniform legal framework across all educational institutions in England.
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A spokesman for the Department for Education emphasised the Government's position on the matter, stating: "We have been consistently clear that mobile phones have no place in schools, and the majority already prohibit them."
"This amendment makes existing guidance statutory, giving legal force to what schools are already doing in practice."
Education Minister Baroness Smith said the move would create a "clear legal requirement for schools".
Teachers have long voiced concerns that the use of phones on school sites can distract pupils from learning and add to problems such as bullying.
The change would establish a uniform legal framework across all educational institutions in England
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Peers have twice voted to introduce an age limit in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
However, both efforts were rejected by MPs in the Commons.
As part of the bill, ministers are set to gain power to curb children’s social media use with curfews, scrolling limits and restrictions on location sharing.
Sir Keir Starmer met with executives from technology companies earlier this month, including Meta, Google, TikTok and X, where the Prime Minister declared: "Things must change.”
“Things can’t go on like this, they must change because right now social media is putting our children at risk," Sir Keir said.
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“In a world in which children are protected, even if that means access is restricted, that is preferable to a world where harm is the price of participation.”
The House of Lords voted by a majority of 107 to ban pupils from having access to their phones during school hours.
The proposal, led by Shadow Education Minister Baroness Barran, includes a potential exception for sixth-formers.
Medical devices and some boarding school settings will also be exempt.
A Department for Education spokesman said the change builds on steps already taken to strengthen enforcement, with Ofsted considering schools’ mobile phone policies as part of inspection from this month.
“We will always put children’s interests first, including through this bill – which is widely recognised as the biggest piece of child safeguarding legislation in decades," the spokesman added.
They claimed critical measures such as this help crack down on "profiteering" in children’s social care and stop children falling through the cracks".
Shadow Education Secretary, Laura Trott, said: “I am delighted we have forced Labour to see sense and U-turn. This is fantastic news for headteachers, parents and pupils across the country.
“For over a year, Labour dismissed this as an unnecessary gimmick, and just last week the Education Minister claimed the problem had already been solved.
"I’m glad they’ve now listened, this is the right step for improving behaviour and raising attainment in our classrooms.”