Two concerned fathers are taking legal action to ban smartphones in UK schools. They believe current government guidance puts children at risk.
Will Orr-Ewing from Oxford and Pete Montgomery near Lancaster wrote to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson on Friday. They warned they would seek a judicial review of the current policy.
Currently, headteachers can choose how to manage smartphone use. However, the two fathers argue this approach is both unlawful and unsafe.
They believe smartphones harm children’s mental health, learning, and safety. Their campaign urges stricter national rules that remove phones from schools entirely.
Meanwhile, the Department for Education says schools already hold the power to ban phones. Officials added that the Online Safety Act will offer stronger protections from harmful online content. As this legal fight gains attention, the debate around smartphone use in schools continues to grow.
Generation Alpha CIC Calls for Smartphone Ban in Schools
A group of concerned fathers, under the name Generation Alpha CIC, is demanding a complete smartphone ban in schools. They believe removing phones is the best way to protect children’s safety and mental health.
According to spokesperson Mr. Orr-Ewing, most kids don’t use smartphones safely. He explained that many students access harmful content, including violent and sexual material. Others use phones to cyberbully their classmates.
Worse, some parents reported disturbing incidents. In one case, boys were secretly filmed naked in changing rooms. Those videos were then shared across the school.
Because of these growing concerns, Generation Alpha CIC is pushing schools and policymakers to take action now. They argue that banning smartphones during school hours will reduce bullying, distraction, and exposure to harmful content.
As the debate continues, more parents and educators join the conversation. For many, the question isn’t if schools should ban smartphones, but how soon they will.
Smartphone Ban in Schools: A Growing Call to Protect Children
Mr Montgomery said: “We made Freedom of Information requests to schools in England about safeguarding incidents related to smartphones and social media.
“One school reported 55 such incidents to social services in the last academic year, 17 of which were referred to the police.” He added: “A statutory ban would be a huge relief for headteachers and parents alike.”
In a statement, the DfE said: “Schools already have the power to ban phones, and we support headteachers to take the necessary steps to prevent disruption, backed by our clear guidance on how to restrict their use.
“We know there are wider issues with children’s online experiences, which is why we are also bringing in better protections from harmful content through the Online Safety Act.” It has 14 days to officially respond to the letter, after which point the claimants can issue judicial review proceedings.
Phone Misuse in Schools Triggers Safeguarding Alarms
Mr. Montgomery revealed that his team filed Freedom of Information requests to schools across England. They asked about safeguarding incidents linked to smartphones and social media.
One school reported 55 serious cases last year. Out of those, 17 were serious enough to involve the police. All were passed to social services.
Montgomery emphasized that a legal ban on phones in schools would bring relief to both headteachers and parents. He stressed the urgency of government action.
Meanwhile, the Department for Education responded by highlighting existing powers. Schools already have the authority to ban smartphones. The DfE also supports headteachers with clear guidance on limiting phone use during school hours.
Additionally, the DfE acknowledged deeper online risks children face. To address this, it is implementing stronger protections through the new Online Safety Act.
The government now has 14 days to reply to the formal letter. After that, the group behind the push may begin legal proceedings.
