School phone bans show almost no impact on student learning, a study found.
Researchers at US universities including Stanford and Duke examined nearly 1,800 schools that required pupils to lock away their smartphones in magnetic pouches and discovered that the restrictions had “close to zero” effect on academic achievement, attendance or online bullying. The findings, published by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), come as the UK government prepares to legislate for a statutory ban on mobile phones in England’s state schools.
Study methodology and mixed results
The study focused on secondary schools using lockable pouches supplied by the company Yondr. The researchers analysed GPS data from phone activity and found that by the third year of a ban, student phone use had fallen substantially. Teacher surveys corroborated this, showing that the proportion of pupils using phones in class for non-academic reasons dropped from 61% to 13%. Teachers also reported higher job satisfaction and fewer classroom distractions.
Despite the steep reduction in phone use, the improvements did not translate into measurable academic gains. “Average effects on standardised test scores are close to zero and precisely estimated,” the authors concluded. There were similarly “small and null effects on attendance, classroom attention, and perceived online bullying”.
The results were not entirely uniform. The study recorded “modest positive effects” on maths scores among older students, while younger pupils experienced small negative effects. A separate study in Florida found that cellphone bans led to a significant increase in suspensions in the short term, particularly among Black students, but these disciplinary actions dissipated after the first year and were followed by significant improvements in test scores in the second year. The NBER study also identified a rise in suspensions and a dip in students’ feelings of wellbeing during the first year after a ban. “Over time, however, disciplinary impacts fade and wellbeing rebounds, becoming positive in subsequent years,” the report noted.
The authors noted that the impact of bans may be more pronounced in middle and high schools where smartphone ownership is more common. Research from the University of Birmingham found no significant difference in mental health, wellbeing or educational outcomes between schools with and without phone bans. A 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis concluded there was no necessary relationship between student phone use and grades. Conversely, a study in Brazil demonstrated that a ban led to improved standardised test scores, especially in maths and Portuguese. Analysis of international PISA data has shown an inverse relationship between phone bans and scores in OECD countries, though the effect sizes were low.
Nuance and expert caution
Professor Thomas Dee of Stanford University’s graduate school of education, a co-author of the report, urged policymakers not to abandon phone bans based on these results. “One of the concerns I have about this study is that it might encourage people to walk away from phone bans as a compelling reform. And I think that would be a major mistake,” he told NPR. “There are some encouraging results in the midst of these mixed findings. They are driving down phone usage, and as schools have longer experiences with phone bans, we’re seeing a shift towards more positive outcomes.”
Some experts caution that school bans alone may not be sufficient to address the negative impacts of phone and social media use, as much of this occurs outside school hours. Internationally, France, South Korea and Australia have already imposed restrictions on smartphones in schools, while some Swiss cantons are banning them amid concerns over concentration and social interaction, though teachers there remain sceptical about blanket bans.
UK moves ahead with statutory ban
Despite the mixed evidence, the UK government is pressing ahead with legislation to make mobile phone restrictions a statutory requirement for England’s state schools. The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will require schools to have policies that ensure phones are handed in or locked away during the school day. The Department for Education has consistently stated that mobile phones have no place in schools. Recent research by England’s children’s commissioner found that more than 90% of schools already have policies barring phone use, but the new rules are intended to give them legal force and reduce inconsistency. There is debate over whether “not seen, not heard” policies are sufficient, with some arguing for stricter measures such as mandatory pouches.
Teaching unions have broadly welcomed the move. Matt Wrack, general secretary of NASUWT, described mobile phones as a “persistent and damaging source of disruption” and said mere guidance was insufficient. His union has called for legislation requiring phones to be locked away, along with a pilot scheme and funding for storage. Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said a statutory ban might not change much in practice but that funding for secure storage would be beneficial. He also called for tougher regulatory action on social media use outside school hours. Ofsted will consider schools’ mobile phone policies and their implementation as part of inspections.
The Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST), which runs 25 private and state schools, has announced a ban on phones for pupils up to Year 11 from September 2026. Philip Purvis, the trust’s director of education, said: “There is a growing body of research showing the potential harms of mobile phones and social media use, along with recent large-scale studies highlighting the specific impact on teenage girls, from addiction to poor mental health and wellbeing.” The GDST’s policy for Year 7 pupils distinguishes between smartphones and basic “brick” phones, and advises parents not to text or call their children during the school day but to contact reception for urgent messages.
As the exam season approaches, England’s exam regulator Ofqual has issued a stark warning. More than 500 candidates were disqualified last year for bringing smart devices into exam halls. Ian Bauckham, the chief regulator, said: “Being found with a smart device during an exam can have serious consequences, including loss of marks or disqualification from the subject. Do not become one of those statistics and risk your qualification and your future prospects. Keep your phone out of the exam hall.”
