Education

Laura Trott calls for total smartphone ban in schools for under 16s amid crisis claims

Tuesday, 20 May 2025 12:31AM UTC

Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott urges a new legislative push to ban smartphones in schools for students under 16, citing classroom disruption and mental health concerns. The move gains Conservative backing amid mixed evidence on mental health impacts and increasing public support.

Laura Trott, the Shadow Education Secretary, has escalated the debate surrounding smartphone usage among schoolchildren by advocating for a comprehensive ban on smartphones in schools for students under the age of 16. This initiative aims to mitigate disturbances in classrooms and address growing concerns regarding the mental well-being of young people.

Trott argues that the consequences of not implementing such a ban are "very grave." According to her statements, only 11% of schools fully enforce a smartphone prohibition in secondary education, contributing to daily disruptions in half of GCSE classrooms. She emphasised the need for immediate action, stating, "We know the damage that smartphones are doing in classrooms up and down the country." She also pointed out that the Department for Education has documented the negative effects of smartphones on students, describing the current situation as "an absolute crisis."

In suggesting alternatives, Trott proposed that parents equip their children with tracking devices like Apple AirTags or basic mobile phones, often referred to as "dumb" phones, to help monitor their whereabouts without the distractions that smartphones present. She acknowledged the practical need for parents to have some means of keeping track of their children while alleviating the pressures that smartphones impose on students during school hours. She stated, “There are lots of ways of doing that - AirTags, dumb phones - but a smartphone is so, so, so damaging.”

The Conservative Party is not merely endorsing Ms Trott’s perspective; they are actively pursuing structural changes. An amendment has been tabled to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that seeks to embed smartphone bans into legislative frameworks, thereby formalising a commitment to reduce mobile phone use in educational settings. This initiative reflects a broader understanding among policymakers of the disruptive role social media and mobile devices play in students' academic lives.

Interestingly, a national survey recently corroborated the rising trend in mobile phone bans, revealing that 99.8% of primary schools and 90% of secondary schools in England have already adopted some form of restriction. Such proactive measures from headteachers suggest a recognition of the negative implications smartphones can have on educational outcomes. Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union, has voiced support for a statutory ban, underlining the damaging impact these devices have on young people's concentration and academic performance.

Contrastingly, a study published in the Lancet highlighted that while many educators advocate for restrictive phone policies, such measures do not necessarily correlate with improved mental health or academic performance in adolescents. The research demonstrated that excessive screen time is linked to deteriorating mental health, behavioural issues, and diminished physical activity among students. This raises important questions about the effectiveness of blanket bans versus targeted interventions aimed at managing smartphone use throughout a child's development.

Public opinion appears to align with Trott's initiative, as recent surveys indicate that nearly two-thirds of the British public support a ban on smartphones in schools. However, the Labour Party has expressed reservations about such measures, lacking a formal stance on implementing a school-wide ban. This discrepancy between public sentiment and political action reflects a complex dynamic, with calls for stricter regulations in sharp contrast to the current policies that provide guidance without mandatory enforcement.

Trott, a mother herself, envisions changing societal norms surrounding smartphone ownership. She plans to delay giving her children smartphones until they turn 16, in hopes of diminishing the societal pressure parents face. “I think that’s going to come across some resistance,” she acknowledged, but she aspires for a future where parents are encouraged to hold off on such devices until their children are older. By driving this conversation forward, Trott aims to protect childhood spaces and enhance academic focus, fostering a healthier environment for young people to thrive in.

In a world increasingly dominated by digital distractions, Laura Trott's push for a smartphone ban highlights urgent discussions about the balance between parental oversight and educational integrity, and the societal implications of our evolving relationship with technology.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2057176/laura-trott-smartphone-ban - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2057176/laura-trott-smartphone-ban - Laura Trott, Shadow Education Secretary, advocates for a ban on smartphones in schools for under-16s, citing concerns over classroom disruptions and student well-being. She suggests alternatives like Apple AirTags or basic phones for parental monitoring. Trott emphasizes the need for schools to enforce such bans, linking their effectiveness to Ofsted ratings. She also plans to delay giving her own children smartphones until they are 16, aiming to shift societal norms around early smartphone use.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/schools-tories-labour-wellbeing-laura-trott-b1207052.html - The Conservative Party is pushing for a ban on smartphones in schools to be included in the Government’s education Bill. An amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill has been tabled, aiming to end the use of mobile phones and other devices during school days by pupils. Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott supports this initiative, highlighting the growing understanding of the negative impact of phones and social media on children's education.
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/apr/10/majority-of-schools-in-england-ban-mobile-phone-use-survey-shows - A national survey reveals that 99.8% of primary schools and 90% of secondary schools in England have implemented some form of mobile phone ban. The survey, ordered by the Children’s Commissioner for England, indicates that headteachers are proactively instituting bans on smartphone use during school hours. Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, supports a statutory ban on mobile phones in schools, citing the damaging impact on young people.
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/feb/05/school-ban-phones-not-improve-grades-health-uk-study - A study published in the Lancet’s Regional Health Europe journal found that restrictive school phone policies do not have a beneficial effect on adolescents’ mental health or related outcomes. The research suggests that increased screen time negatively affects students' mental health, classroom behavior, physical activity, and sleep cycles. The study emphasizes the need for interventions to reduce phone and social media use to positively influence adolescent mental well-being.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/10/05/labour-smartphone-ban-schools-children-laws-regulation/ - Despite global trends and parental pleas for stricter rules, the UK Labour Party has no plans to ban smartphones in schools. The previous Conservative government issued guidance supporting headteachers in restricting phone access but stopped short of implementing binding rules. Public opinion shows that nearly two-thirds of people in Britain believe smartphones should be banned in schools, highlighting a significant divide between public sentiment and the Labour Party's stance.
https://www.itv.com/news/2024/05/25/total-ban-on-under-16s-owning-smartphones-should-be-considered-mps-suggest - A report from MPs suggests that the next government should consider a total ban on smartphones for under-16s and a full statutory ban on mobile phones in schools. The House of Commons Education Committee argues that tougher guidance on mobile phones in schools and managing children's screen time is needed to protect young people. The report also recommends consulting on raising the age of digital consent from 13 to 16.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 9

Notes: The narrative discusses current political initiatives and recent surveys, indicating timely information. However, no specific date is mentioned in the content itself.

Quotes check

Score: 8

Notes: Quotes appear to be recent and are attributed to Laura Trott, but without specific dates or sources for the quotes' origin, it is difficult to verify their first appearance.

Source reliability

Score: 6

Notes: The narrative originates from the Daily Express, which can have varying reliability depending on the topic. Supporting references include reputable sources like The Guardian and The Standard.

Plausability check

Score: 9

Notes: The narrative aligns with ongoing debates about smartphone use in schools, with supporting evidence from recent surveys and political initiatives. However, the effectiveness of bans is debated.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative appears to be timely and reflects current political discussions, but lacks specific dates for quotes and is sourced from a potentially variable outlet. Claims are plausible given recent surveys and political actions.

Laura Trott
smartphone ban
education policy
mental health
schools
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill