Can my child take a ‘brick’ phone to school? All you need to know as new ban now in force

SMART phone bans have officially come into force across England’s schools as children return after the summer holidays. However, a number of schools are letting children bring “brick” or basic phones instead. Some English schools are allowing pupils to bring “brick” phones in response to the recent smart phone ban Credit: Alamy From June 29, all English state-funded schools were required to enforce the Department for Education’s smart phone ban as part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026. Under these rules, schools must ensure that pupils cannot access their phones throughout the entire school day, including during lunch, break times and between lessons. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Other gadgets that can receive messages and notifications, such as smart watches, are also subject to the ban. In response to the new rules, some headteachers are letting pupils bring “brick” phones or basic phones to school if they remain switched off during school hours. Swanmore College in Hampshire, according to the Southern Daily Echo, has recently defended its decision to allow basic phones, suggesting the introduction is better for the wellbeing and education of pupils. Finham Park School in Coventry is also allowing children to bring in a “brick” phone, or the school itself will supply one during the confiscation period. Parents of children at Kingsdale Foundation School in Dulwich have also been told that year seven and eight can bring non-smart devices with a low monetary value, recommending the Nokia 105 and IMO Dash. Under the Department for Education’s guidance, “brick” phones would be subject to the same school-day ban as smart phones as they can make calls and send texts. Most read in The Sun However, whether your child can bring one into school and store it away during the day depends on your school’s individual policy. Some schools ban all devices at the entrance gate, while others may allow “brick” phones to be stored away until the child commutes home. Before sending children in with a basic phone, check your school’s website or ask teachers directly to confirm their policy and what is acceptable. As part of the Government’s guidance, staff are required to address any questions or concerns about the phone ban in a timely manner and explain why they have introduced certain policies. Comment now