A countywide ban on student smartphone use during the school day from the start of the next academic year in September 2026 has moved a step closer after our councillors overwhelmingly endorsed the principle.
The motion put forward at this weeks Full Council meeting by Councillor Graham Bell, sought to reflect “the administration’s commitment to putting children’s wellbeing first”, with the aim of ensuring that nearly 40,000 pupils in Devon’s maintained schools are better protected from digital distraction, isolation, and harm.
Councillors raised concerns that smartphones are a growing source of distraction which leads to a number of issues including bullying, sleep disruption, and anxiety.
The County Council will support the Smartphone Free Childhood (SFC) campaign and will aim to carry out a consultation before the start of the Spring Term with results being analysed by February 2026.
While the Council does not have the authority to mandate policy implementation, it will actively encourage and support all schools—maintained, academies, and independent—in developing and embedding mobile phone policies that align with the Department for Education’s expectations and promote a safe, focused, and inclusive learning environment.
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