New school ban from September 1 under Andy Burnham with item confiscated

NewsMidlands NewsEducationGuidance became statutory on 29 June 202607:31, 04 Aug 2026Under new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, phones will be banned in all of England's schools when pupils return from the summer holidays in September. With schools allowed to choose their own enforcement strategies, some are opting to force phones into lockers or sealed pouches, while others simply tell pupils to keep devices in their bags.‌Guidance became statutory on 29 June 2026, before Mr Burnham became Labour Party PM. But schools should begin following it from 1 September 2026, government guidance states, which will fall under his premiership.‌The government states: “Schools should feel confident to use their power to confiscate mobile phones or similar devices as a disciplinary penalty where their polic