How Are UK Schools Managing Students’ Screen Time This Year?

Exactly a month ago, the government launched a consultation on children’s social media use and backed tougher action on mobile phones in schools…

Ministers say they want a safer digital childhood and are asking parents and young people for their views before setting out next steps in the summer.

Under the new guidance, schools are expected to be phone free environments. Ofsted inspectors will now check mobile phone policies at every inspection and assess how well they are enforced. Nearly all primary schools, 99.9%, and 90% of secondary schools already have policies in place. Even so, 58% of secondary pupils reported phones being used without permission in at least one lesson, rising to 65% in key stage 4, according to the government.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “We have been clear that mobile phones have no place in our schools but now we’re going further through tougher guidance and stronger enforcement. Mobile phones have no place in schools. No ifs, no buts.” Schools that struggle will receive one-to-one support from Attendance and Behaviour Hub schools.

How Will Social Media Rules Change?

Ministers are examining stricter controls on children’s access to social media. The consultation will look at raising the digital age of consent, improving age checks and even a ban for children under a certain age. It will also consider limiting addictive design features such as streaks and infinite scrolling.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: “Through the Online Safety Act, this government has already taken clear, concrete steps to deliver a safer online world for our children and young people. These laws were never meant to be the end point, and we know parents still have serious concerns. That is why I am prepared to take further action.”

She added: “Technology has huge potential – to create jobs, transform public services, and improve lives. But we will only seize on that potential if people know they and their children are safe online. We are determined to ensure technology enriches children’s lives, not harms them – and to give every child the childhood they deserve.”

The government says 8 million people now use age checks to access adult sites each day and visits to adult content sites have gone down by a third since rules came into force in July 2025. The share of children encountering age checks has risen from 30% to 47%, and 58% of parents believe the measures are improving safety online.

How Are Schools Testing Alternatives To Bans?

A new pilot led by Orbiri is running in 6 schools across Surrey, Hampshire and Hertfordshire. Participating schools include Weydon School, St Peter’s CofE School and Fearnhill School.

The system groups apps into age appropriate Spaces such as School, Social Media and Play, each with set opening hours and daily time limits. During school hours, only learning tools approved by the school are accessible on devices used in class.

Orbiri says it wants whole year groups to adopt shared digital boundaries so that pupils, parents and staff follow the same expectations. The company argues that peer pressure can work in favour of healthy habits when rules apply to everyone.

Jason Michaelides, founder and chief executive of Orbiri, said: “The problem isn’t that parents don’t care or that schools aren’t trying hard enough. It’s that we’re asking individuals to solve a collective problem. You can ban phones in one place or restrict one app for your own child, but unless children see the same expectations everywhere – at school, at home, with friends – the pressure and conflict simply resurface. Orbiri exists to close that gap and bring everyone along together.”

What Do Schools And Educators Say About Managing Screen Time?

Ros Allen, headteacher at Weydon School, said: “I am delighted that Weydon School families have the opportunity to trial this cutting-edge technology which seeks not only to offer a pragmatic and workable solution to the thorny issue of children’s access to smartphones but also epitomises my commitment to working in partnership with parents to set clear boundaries around the use of smartphones for young people.”

Sarah Dunning, headteacher at St Peter’s CofE School, said: “St Peter’s is pleased to be taking part in this pilot, which will explore how this technology can support families as they navigate the challenges of smartphone use for children of primary school age. It is particularly encouraging to see many local schools involved, including one of our feeder secondary schools. Working together in this way allows us to support families more effectively and help build a healthy, consistent culture around smartphone use.”

Nicholas Fowler, assistant headteacher at Fearnhill School, said: “Mobile phones are brilliant, however they can be difficult for anyone to manage. At Fearnhill School, we want to help our young adults manage their own mobile phone usage. Therefore, instead of banning mobile phones, we are excited to be working with Orbiri to help our students learn to manage and control their mobile phone usage.”