Schools urged to keep smartphones inaccessible all day
New guidance says schools should move beyond keeping phones out of sight and make them inaccessible throughout the school day.
Education Secretary Lucy Powell spoke about smartphones.
She said children should not use them.
This applies during the school day.
The Department for Education gave new figures.
Only 16% follow phone rules all the time.
Schools use lockable pouches.
Some schools collect phones in the morning.
Some schools store phones safely.
Some schools ban phones on site.
A March poll asked children aged 9–16.
It found that 40% chose the internet.
They turned down real-world activities.
Clayton Hall Academy uses locked pouches.
Pupils in Years 7 to 11 use them.
They lock their phones when they arrive.
Headteacher Caty Reid said staff saw more play.
They also saw more talking.
They saw better lesson work and attendance.
They saw fewer hurtful online behaviour incidents.
Children’s Commissioner for England Rachel de Souza welcomed stronger action.
She spoke about phone distraction and disruption.
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Department for Education · Crown copyright · Open Government Licence v3.0
Independently rewritten, translated, simplified and shortened for this language-learning newspaper. No publisher endorsement is implied. Source publication: 2026-11-10T12:41:13+00:00; last indicated update: 2026-11-10T12:41:13+00:00.
Section: United Kingdom
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