UK study and new European rules fuel debate over school smartphone bans

A University College London study of 732 secondary students, 27 teachers and 41 parents found a stark split over total smartphone bans in English schools. 87% of teachers and 88% of parents favoured bans, citing distraction and cognitive risk, while 75% of students opposed them, arguing phones are essential for safety, transport information and emotional support. The research notes that bans often shift phone use to evenings, increase night‑time screen time, and create surveillance‑focused solutions such as locked cases, without improving digital literacy.

From 1 July 2026, Italy will enforce stricter nationwide rules that remove phones from classrooms, with lockers and signed registers, while Austria, Greece, Croatia, Poland, Spain and other EU nations have introduced similar limits for younger pupils. Ministers in Italy and Greece stress the need to protect attention, classroom order and minors from cyber‑bullying. Exceptions are allowed for medical or learning needs, and schools report a drop in in‑class disputes but face parental concerns about student accessibility outside school hours.