A new study from University College London (UCL) has found that outright bans on smartphones in schools are viewed as 'punitive' by young people and may be counterproductive. The report, published on Tuesday, comes just one day after a statutory ban on smartphones in schools in England took effect, making schools legally responsible for ensuring phone-free environments throughout the school day.
The UCL research surveyed 732 secondary school students aged 11 to 18, along with 27 teachers and 41 parents, using questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups. While there was broad agreement about the potential for smartphones to be disruptive in classrooms, the study revealed a significant generational divide: 87% of teachers and 88% of parents supported a blanket ban, but 75% of pupils opposed such a policy.
Students value smartphones for communication and safety
According to the report, 'Adults feel the bans will alleviate disruptions and simplify classroom management, whereas pupils experience smartphones as supporting communication, safety, emotional regulation and everyday organisation.' Students argued that banning smartphones restricts access to essential tools they rely on for daily life and learning, such as bus timetables, weather forecasts, and homework apps.
Many students valued their smartphones for providing direct access to support networks. Girls, in particular, said their phones helped them feel safer when travelling alone. The report also warned that while bans might reduce the visibility of issues like cyberbullying and sexual harassment at school, they could drive these problems underground, making students less likely to report concerns to adults.
Varied ban policies across schools
Schools in England have adopted different approaches to phone bans. Some allow students to bring phones but require them to be stored in lockers or sealed pouches. Others permit only 'brick' or 'dumb' phones with limited internet access, while a few schools prohibit phones entirely on the premises.
Lead author Jessica Ringrose, a professor of sociology of gender and education at the UCL Institute of Education, said: 'The students we spoke to perceived blanket bans as punitive, rather than supportive. They felt bans undermined trust between them and the adults in their lives, who they felt misunderstood the integral role phones play in their day-to-day routine.'
Experts call for nuanced approach
Co-author Dawn Aytoun, from the education consultancy Life Lessons Education, said: 'Schools should encourage students to learn, understand and discuss the ethical, relational and political dimensions of the digital world, as well as the economic models that guide tech companies.'
Another co-author, Edith Rodda, a PhD candidate at UCL, added: 'Rushed school smartphone policies that don't consider students' perspectives, however well intentioned, risk creating a cycle of punishment that ultimately undermines the policy's aims. Students inevitably find workarounds, like breaking open lockable phone pouches.'
Government defends ban
A Department for Education spokesperson defended the policy, stating: 'We're using the power of government to drive a culture change that is widely backed by parents and school leaders alike – enabling children to benefit from the best of technology, while protecting them from the worst of it.'
The spokesperson highlighted additional measures, including the first-ever screen use guidance for parents of five- to 16-year-olds, a ban on social media proven to harm under-16s, support for safe AI tutoring tools, and curriculum updates to help children identify misinformation and build media literacy skills.
