SCHOOLS
The directive from the Department for Education is unequivocal: schools must be “mobile phone-free environments” throughout the entire school day, including break and lunch times.
Simultaneously, the new Ofsted framework places unprecedented weight on the culture of safeguarding. Inspectors are moving beyond compliance checklists to evaluate whether schools proactively “protect pupils from harm… online” and whether this practice is “embedded and sustained over time” to meet the “Strong” standard.
The “Common Approach” is failing
Most schools already have a mobile phone policy. Yet, the Department for Education’s own data reveals a critical gap:
90% of schools have restrictions yet 58% of secondary pupils still report phones being used in lessons
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mobile-phones-in-schools/mobile-phones-in-schools
Why is a standard ban NOT enough?
It’s Reactive, Not Cultural: Simple bans treat the symptom (the device) but ignore the root cause (addiction and social pressure), turning teachers into “device police” rather than educators.
It Lacks Parental Alignment: Without educating families, schools face friction from parents who feel out of the loop, undermining the policy from home.
It Isn’t Sustainable: Attempting systemic change without a unified framework is time-consuming, inconsistent, and often fades once the initial push is over.
As a school leader, you are left paying a “behavioural tax”—spending valuable leadership capacity managing the fallout of a problem that policy alone cannot solve.
SCreenwise partnership
Screenwise helps you move beyond the “ban” to create a calm, focused, and high-performing school environment. We don’t just tell you to remove phones; we build the infrastructure to make it work.
We Solve the “Parent Gap”
The government explicitly states schools “should communicate clearly with parents” to ensure policy support. We take this burden off your shoulders. Our expert-led Parent Talks shift the narrative from “taking phones away” to “protecting mental health,” turning potential resistance into a unified community effort.
We Embed Sustainability (The “Train the Trainer” Model)
Real change cannot depend on a one-off assembly. We train an in-house Screenwise Lead on your staff, equipping them with the resources to sustain this education for future year groups. This provides the evidence of “embedded practice” required for a “Strong” Ofsted judgment.
We Restore Academic Focus
The House of Commons Education Committee has identified a “clear correlation between screen time and lower educational attainment.” By addressing the mechanics of distraction through our Student Workshops, we help you recover lost learning time and protect the executive function skills needed for deep learning.
Partner with Screenwise
Don’t let mobile phones remain a battleground. Equip your school with the framework, the evidence, and the community support you need to succeed.
Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education, letter to schools
Ofsted Framework
DfE Guidance