All England Schools Face New Ban From Monday — No Ifs, No Buts

Mobile phones are moving from a school-by-school disciplinary issue to a legally backed national policy in England. From Monday, June 29, Section 36 of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 gives the government’s phone-free guidance statutory force.

The expectation is clear: pupils should not have access to personal phones during the school day. However, the “no ifs, no buts” message requires some legal nuance, because schools retain control over implementation and can make limited exceptions for particular pupils.