Mobile phone policy: model and examples
Adapt our model mobile phone policy to suit your school, or use our checklist to help you write your own. See examples of policies from other schools on the use of mobile phones by pupils, staff, parents/carers, visitors and volunteers.
- Download our model policy
- Template policy summary for visitors
- Use our guidance to decide your school's approach to mobile phone use for pupils
- Examples of policies:
Download our model policy
The DfE's non-statutory guidance on the use of mobile phones in schools and behaviour in schools say that schools should develop, implement and publish a policy that bans the use of mobile phones or similar devices in school.
Early years providers must cover the use of mobile phones and cameras in their safeguarding policies. For other settings, the mobile phone policy can be a standalone document, or can be included in the school's behaviour policy.
Use our model for a standalone mobile phone policy to save you time and help you set clear expectations for everyone in your school community.
Approved by Forbes Solicitors, the policy meets the requirements laid out in the guidance and covers pupils, staff, parents/carers, visitors and volunteers.
It includes:
- A model code of conduct/acceptable use agreement for pupils who can bring their phones to school due to extenuating circumstances
- Template permission forms for bringing mobile phones to school
For more model policies, visit our Policy Expert page.
Checklist
If you'd rather write your own policy, and just need to know what you should cover, use our checklist to help you:
KeyDoc: mobile phone policy checklist
Template policy summary for visitors
Use our tear-and-share template policy summary to make sure all visitors know your policy on using mobile phones.
Give it to them when they sign in, so you can enforce your policy consistently and keep pupils safe.
KeyDoc: mobile phone policy summary sheet for visitors
Use our guidance to decide your school's approach to mobile phone use for pupils
The DfE has explained that it's best practice to ban the use of mobile phones in school, in its non-statutory guidance on mobile phone use. Get to grips with the different approaches to managing mobile phone use and choose which one is best for your school.
Keep safeguarding at the front of your mind
Consider that some children may use their phones or other devices to bully or sexually harass their peers, or view and share indecent images or other harmful content while at school.
Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2023 (paragraph 138) says you should develop your approach to the use of mobile phones and other smart technology with this in mind, though that doesn't mean that you're required to ban the use of phones or internet for pupils at school.
Examples of policies:
Please note that the following policies may not have been updated with the new guidance in mind.
Voluntary controlled primary school in Kent
Goudhurst and Kilndown Church of England Primary School has a mobile technology and smart media technology policy that says:
- All members of the school community should use a password or PIN to prevent unauthorised access to their personal devices
Voluntary aided primary school in Rochdale
St. John's Church of England Thornham Primary School has a mobile phone policy that says:
- Pupils in years 5 and 6 are allowed to bring mobile phones to school if they walk to school independently
- Staff must not make or receive calls or texts during contact time with pupils
Secondary academy in Lewisham
Haberdashers' Knights Academy has a mobile phone and devices policy which allows pupils to bring phones into school but says:
- Devices should be switched off while pupils are on the premises
- Expensive devices should not be brought into school
