A groundbreaking study from the University of Birmingham has found that banning mobile phones in schools does not lead to improved academic performance or better mental health outcomes among students. The research, which compared 1,227 students across 30 different secondary schools, challenges common assumptions about restrictive phone policies in educational settings.
The peer-reviewed study revealed that students at schools with phone bans showed no significant differences in:
- Academic performance
- Mental well-being
- Sleep patterns
- Physical activity levels
- Overall daily phone usage
Dr Victoria Goodyear, who led the study, emphasized that while increased screen time does negatively impact students’ mental health, classroom behavior, physical activity, and sleep cycles, simply banning phones at school is not an effective solution. Instead, the research suggests the need for a more comprehensive approach to managing student phone use.
According to The Journal, the findings come at a crucial time as different countries grapple with phone policies in schools. In Ireland, the Department of Education has recently initiated a €9 million tender for lockable phone pouches as part of Budget 2025, aiming to implement a “no phone during the school day” policy in post-primary schools.
Meanwhile, in the UK, the issue has become politically charged, with Labour’s Education Secretary rejecting Conservative calls for legislation to ban phones in classrooms, describing it as a “headline-grabbing gimmick.”
The study concludes that while restrictive phone policies might have a place in schools, they need to be part of a broader, more holistic approach to addressing adolescent mobile phone and social media use. This suggests that policymakers and educators may need to reconsider their approach to managing student phone use in educational settings.