Smartphone Challenge
We think almost all smartphone policies in UK schools are unlawful.
About us
In the ongoing debate around children's use of smartphones and social media, we think something has been missed. It may already be unlawful to allow children to bring their smartphones to school.
Why do we think this?
The UK has decades of good child safeguarding law, but in the cultural shift towards giving children smartphones, some of it has been forgotten about. We think that existing legislation, statutory guidance and case law means that almost all current smartphone policies in schools are unlawful — even when they are based on recent DfE guidance.
What are we doing?
We're working with leading lawyers to help bring about an end to smartphones in schools in the UK. We are preparing a legal challenge that will apply to all schools in England, and potentially more widely.
Our search
We are looking for parents of children who have been negatively affected by smartphones at their school. Could this be you, or someone you know?
- Your child has been negatively affected by the use of Internet-connected smartphones at school
- For example, bullying on a group chat, being shown inappropriate content, or even just using age-inappropriate apps
- This happened while he or she was under the school's care — during the school day, on the school bus, on a school trip or at a sporting fixture
- The school is a secondary school in England
- The school still allows children to bring their smartphones to school (even if they're supposed to be switched off in their bags)