Wales Announced Statutory Guidance to Restrict Mobile Phones in Schools (United Kingdom, June 2026)
The Welsh Government announced that it will issue statutory guidance to schools on restricting mobile phone use during the school day.
The Welsh Government announced that it will issue statutory guidance to schools on restricting mobile phone use during the school day.
What Changed?
Wales moved toward national statutory guidance after consultation and workforce survey evidence showed strong demand for clearer national direction on school phone use.
Old System vs New System
Most schools had mobile phone policies, but there was no consistent national statutory approach across Wales.
The forthcoming statutory guidance will set clearer expectations for local authorities and schools on mobile phone use during the school day and will be evaluated over the school year.
Who Is Affected?
Student Impact
Students may experience more consistent restrictions on phones in school, intended to reduce distraction and improve learning conditions.
Parent / Family Impact
Parents should expect clearer school rules and communications about when pupils may or may not use phones.
School / Institution Impact
Schools will need to align local policies with national statutory guidance once published.
Teacher / Staff Impact
Teachers may have clearer backing when enforcing phone restrictions and managing classroom expectations.
Key Dates
- Announced: 2026-06-16
- guidance to be issued after consultation
- evaluation planned over the school year.
What To Do
- Schools should review existing phone policies and prepare to update them when statutory guidance is issued.
What To Watch Next
Watch for the publication of the statutory guidance and any future strengthening of expectations after evaluation.
Global Context
Mobile phone restrictions are increasingly common internationally as governments respond to concerns about distraction, wellbeing and online harms.
Source Record
Source type: Official announcement
Source name: Welsh Government