05 Mar 2026
Having led the way in St Albans by introducing a ban on smartphones for new Year 7 students starting in September, Sandringham School is proposing taking things even further.
The secondary school is consulting with parents on whether to extend the smartphone ban to all Key Stage 3 students (Years 7, 8 and 9) from September, rather than waiting for the policy to roll through year by year.
It is also exploring views on whether to extend the policy further into Years 10 and 11 from September this year, or wait until September 2027 for this roll-out.
Headteacher Alan Gray explained why they are reviewing the policy: “Last year, following a consultation with families, the school took the decision that new Year 7 students joining Sandringham from September 2026 would not be permitted to bring smartphones into school. This decision was made primarily to support families in managing young
people’s expectations around smartphone ownership and use at a key transition point in their education.
“The response from families was overwhelmingly positive. Many parents told us they felt relieved that they would not need to purchase a smartphone for their child at such a young age, and that applying the policy to all new students helped to remove peer pressure. This approach also aligned closely with practices in many local primary schools.
“Since that decision was made in June 2025, the national and international views around smartphones, mobile phones in general, social media and young people has continued to evolve rapidly.”
Mr Gray said there is growing evidence that unrestricted access to smartphones and social media can have a negative impact on young people’s mental health, sleep, attention, learning and social development.
“Governments across the world are debating age limits for social media platforms and tighter controls on smartphone use by children.
“Recently, the House of Lords voted in favour of banning mobile phones in schools, reflecting a clear shift in national thinking.
“The Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, has written to all schools this term making clear the Government’s position that there is no place for mobile phones in
schools.
“The ‘Keeping Children Safe in Schools’ statutory guidance is highly likely to include a new section on mobile free environments in schools that schools will have to enforce from September 2026.
“From April , Ofsted inspections will explicitly check that schools are enforcing mobile- phone-free school days and that students are not using phones during the school day.
“Taken together, these developments strongly reinforce the direction the school has already begun to take.”
Although pupils would be permitted to bring non-smartphone devices to school, this would be discouraged.
Mr Gray added: “We recognise that smartphones play a role in modern life, and this proposal is not about judgement or blame. It is about creating a healthy balance and protecting young people during a critical stage of their development.”
St Albans has been at the forefront of the campaign for tougher restrictions on access to apps and smartphones for young people, since the St Albans Primary Schools Consortium of local primary headteachers issued a joint letter calling on parents not to let their children have a smartphone before they are 14.
