Not absolutely.
The same statutory guidance that tells schools to be phone-free says in its own words that other legal duties still bite — and that refusing a disabled pupil access to their phone, where the disability makes it necessary, may itself breach the school’s duty. For a pupil managing a medical condition through their phone, DfE goes further and says preventing it would not be reasonable. But an adaptation is not an exemption: the guidance expects a narrowed permission, not a free pass.
updated 28 Jun 2026last checked 17 Sept 2026
What the source actually says
The overriding principle:
“While schools are expected to prohibit the use of mobile phones throughout the school day to reduce distraction and disruption, they must comply with their other legal duties such as the duty to make reasonable adjustments where necessary. There may be other exceptional circumstances where schools should consider making adaptations to their policy for specific pupils. This guidance does not provide an exhaustive list of exceptional circumstances, and schools should assess each case on its own merits.”
— Mobile phones in schools, DfE, statutory guidance, “Adaptations and reasonable adjustments” DfE
On disability:
“Schools have a duty under the Equality Act 2010 to take such steps as is reasonable to avoid substantial disadvantage to a disabled pupil caused by the school’s policies or practices. Allowing a disabled pupil access to their mobile phone during the school day, where it is necessary due to the nature of their disability, may be considered a reasonable adjustment and a failure to do so may be a breach of the school’s duty.”
— same source DfE
On medical conditions, with DfE’s own worked example:
“In some circumstances, supporting a pupil with their medical condition can involve the use of a mobile phone. For example, pupils with diabetes might use continuous glucose monitoring with a sensor linked to their mobile phone to monitor blood sugar levels. Where mobile phone use allows pupils to manage their medical condition effectively, it would not be reasonable for a school to prevent this.”
— same source DfE
And the limit on the limit — this is the sentence most often missed:
“Allowing flexibility for individual pupils does not mean that these pupils should be exempt from all restrictions on the use of their mobile phone. Schools should develop practices that enable pupils to use their mobile phone for a specific purpose at specific times and locations, for example, in a Head of Year’s office.”
— same source DfE
On the guidance’s status and start date, in its own words:
“This guidance became statutory on 29 June 2026.”
— Mobile phones in schools, DfE, statutory guidance, opening lines (under the heading “Mobile phones in schools”, immediately before “About this guidance”) DfE
“Schools should begin following it from 1 September 2026”
— Mobile phones in schools, DfE, statutory guidance, opening lines (under the heading “Mobile phones in schools”, immediately before “About this guidance”) DfE
Your school may still require it
Your school decides the mechanics — who agrees an adaptation, whether it is recorded in an individual healthcare plan or a young carers policy, where and when the phone may be used. You can be directed to follow that process, and a pupil telling you they have “permission” is not the same as the school having agreed one. What your school cannot do is run a no-exceptions policy and treat the Equality Act duty as overridden by the phone rules.
See also If a disabled pupil doesn't get their reasonable adjustments, is that on me?, If I'm given responsibility for a pupil's medical needs, is it my legal duty? and Can I confiscate a pupil's phone, and for how long?.