West Sussex County Council will urge the Government to make all primary schools smartphone-free, following concerns raised by councillors about the impact of social media and mobile phone use on children’s emotional health, wellbeing and learning.
The council’s Cabinet Members for Children, Young People and Learning and for Public Health and Wellbeing, will write to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson MP after a notice of motion was passed during a full council meeting on Friday 12 December.
The motion, proposed by Councillor John Dabell, builds on discussions from the full council meeting in March this year, when members spoke about the harmful influence of toxic online content and the importance of positive role models for young people.
It also follows a recent West Sussex Online Harms Seminar jointly organised by the county council’s Children, Young People and Learning and Public Health directorates, which provided an opportunity to explore the issue of online and digital harms for school-aged children and young people with key stakeholders, including some primary and secondary school teachers, public health professionals, police, digital safety experts and members of the West Sussex Youth Cabinet.
Government guidance currently expects schools to prohibit mobile phone use and other smart technology during the school day, including during lessons, breaktimes, and lunchtimes, reducing unnecessary distraction, disruption and diversion, and supporting a calm and safe environment, so all pupils can learn and thrive.
The motion passed by the council notes that current Children’s Minister, Josh MacAllister MP, previously introduced a Private Members’ Bill, known as the Safer Phones Bill, in October 2024. This Bill initially aimed to make all schools phone-free zones during the school day, raise the age of internet adulthood from 13 to 16 and strengthen Ofcom’s powers to protect children from addictive apps. However, the school phone ban provision was removed during the Bill’s progression and, whilst the Bill received both cross-party endorsements and support from educational and children’s organisations, it was withdrawn on 10 September this year.
Following support from county councillors, it was agreed that Councillor Jacquie Russell, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Learning and Councillor Bob Lanzer, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing will write to the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson MP, to request that the Government reconsiders its position on this matter and that all primary school settings become smartphone free.
Watch the debate in full: County Council - Friday 12 December 2025, 10:30am - West Sussex webcasts
Advice and support to help you, your family and business stay safe online is available on the county council website.
