A group led by a 17-year-old student, Flossie McShea, and a mother of three, Katie Moore, together with two fathers, is mounting a High Court challenge to ban smartphones in schools, arguing current safeguarding guidance lacks a statutory ban.

Moore cites her daughter's exposure to explicit images and a video-chat incident at school, contending that only a full statutory ban would effectively protect students.

McShea describes harms from phone use in class—pornography and violent content among them—and says the school’s smartphone ban has already improved her experience.

The claim contends safeguarding guidance does not require a total ban, contrasting with prior non-statutory guidance; High Court papers will be lodged soon.

Lawyers will file High Court papers on Monday challenging the omission of a mandatory school phone ban in safeguarding guidance, after writing to the Education Secretary in July.

The claim argues that Department for Education safeguarding guidance is inadequate and that smartphones should be banned to better protect students.

FOI disclosures are cited, showing significant safeguarding incidents related to phones, including a school referring 55 cases to social services and 17 to the police.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson was notified in July about the plan, underscoring the challenge to the absence of a mandatory school phone ban in safeguarding guidance.

Montgomery and Orr-Ewing highlight the FOI findings of safeguarding issues tied to phones and social media, with referrals to authorities noted.

A government spokesperson maintains that phones have no place in schools and that headteachers already hold banning powers, with guidance and the Online Safety Act supporting child protection.

Context notes that under the previous government schools operated with non-statutory guidance on phone use; a 2024 Children’s Commissioner survey showed wide adoption of policies, but with varied allowances.

Survey data indicate most secondary schools keep phones out of sight rather than outright banning them, and only a small share prohibit them entirely.

The action is filed under Generation Alpha CIC by Will Orr-Ewing and Pete Montgomery alongside two other claimants, with lawyers set to lodge papers in the High Court on Monday.

Generation Alpha CIC’s developers are funding and organizing the court action, coordinating with counsel to file the High Court papers.