education
‘Close to zero impact’: US study casts doubt on effect of phone ban in schools
Researchers say findings are not reason to shy away from restrictions as MPs consider ban in England’s schools
TL;DR
- A study across nearly 1,800 US schools found strict mobile phone bans had little to no impact on student learning, attendance, or online bullying.
- Average effects on test scores were consistently close to zero, with similar null effects on classroom attention.
- Phone usage did substantially fall, especially by the third year of a ban, but this did not translate into measurable academic improvements.
- The study noted modest positive effects on maths scores for older students and negative effects on younger pupils.
- Wellbeing initially dipped and disciplinary impacts rose in the first year of a ban, but these effects faded over time.
- UK government is moving towards legislating mobile phone restrictions for state schools in England.
- The Girls' Day School Trust is implementing a ban for pupils up to year 11, citing potential harms of mobile phones and social media.
- England's exam regulator warned students against bringing phones or smartwatches into exam halls to avoid disqualification.