The majority of schools in Enfield will ban smartphones from September 2025. In a council-supported newsletter sent out to parents in May, 84 primary and secondary schools announced the ban to address safeguarding risks, mental health issues and the increased risk of mugging.
Enfield will become the second London borough to introduce a widespread smartphone ban at schools after Barnet Council, which rolled out the policy in February 2025.
Enfield mum Rajpreet Bawa, 32, told MyLondon: “I actually think the policy is a positive thing. I am happy that the schools are taking a stance on it. I don’t see it as a punishment but more as a protection for the children.”
The mother, who has a five-year-old, said that 99% of the children she sees walking into her son’s school are always looking down at their phones.
“During school time, they should focus on making friends and learning life skills rather than being isolated on their phones,” she said. “I think this policy should have been introduced earlier, as phones have a bad effect on them.”
The ban will prohibit students from bringing smartphones onto school premises and recommends students to bring a phone without internet connectivity, such as a ‘brick’ phone, if it is necessary for them to communicate with their parents before or after school hours.
In the newsletter sent out to parents, the letter states that smartphones have been linked to impaired attention and focus, sleep deprivation, mental health issues, online bullying, exposure to harmful online content and people, increased risk of mugging, and increased loneliness and social isolation.
Enfield Councillor Abdul Abdullahi, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “The council and schools cannot lead this fight alone, we need full support from parents in the borough to ensure children are protected in the real world and online.
“Students should be able to focus on their education and be able to engage in the classroom without any unnecessary distractions caused by smartphone use.
“This is why we highly encourage parents to delay giving their child a smartphone and access to social media at a young age.
“We want young people to be at school to flourish, and we fully support those schools that have decided to introduce this policy.”
Full list of Enfield schools that have banned smartphones
- AIM North London
- Alma Primary School
- Ark John Keats Academy
- Bishop Stopford’s School
- Bowes Primary School
- Brimsdown Primary School
- Capel Manor Primary School
- Carterhatch Infant School
- Carterhatch Junior School
- Chase Side Primary School
- Chace Community School
- Chesterfield Primary School
- Churchfield Primary School
- De Bohun Primary School
- Delta Primary School
- Durants School
- Delta Primary School
- Eastfield Primary School
- Edmonton County School
- Eldon Primary School
- Enfield County School for Girls
- Enfield Grammar
- Enfield Heights Academy
- Eversley Primary School
- Fern House School
- Firs Farm Primary School
- Forty Hill CE Primary School
- FreshSteps Independent School
- Galliard Primary School
- Garfield Primary School
- George Spicer Primary School
- Grange Park Preparatory School
- Grange Park Primary School
- Hadley Wood Primary School
- Hazelbury Primary School
- Hazelwood Schools (Infant and Junior)
- Heron Hall Academy
- Highfield Primary School
- Highlands School
- Honilands Primary School
- Houndsfield Primary School
- Keble Preparatory School
- Keys Meadow Primary School
- Kingfisher Hall Academy
- Kingsmead School
- Latymer All Saints C of E Primary School
- Laurel Park School
- Lavender Primary School
- Lea Valley Academy
- Merryhills Primary School
- Oakthorpe Primary School
- Oaktree School
- Oasis Enfield Academy
- Orchardside School
- Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School
- Prince of Wales Primary School
- Raglan Schools (Infant and Junior)
- Raynham Primary School
- St Edmund’s Catholic Primary School
- St Ignatius College
- Salcombe Preparatory School
- Salmons Brook School
- Southgate School
- Starks Field Primary School
- St Andrew’s CE Primary School Enfield
- St George’s Catholic Primary School
- St John’s CE Primary School
- St John and St James CE Primary School
- St Mary’s Catholic Primary School
- St Matthew’s CE Primary School
- St Michael at Bowes CE Primary School
- St Michael’s CE Primary School
- St Monica’s Catholic Primary School
- St Paul’s CE Primary School
- Suffolks Primary School
- Tottenhall Infant School
- Vita Et Pax Preparatory School
- Walker Primary School
- Wilbury Primary School
- Winchmore School
- Wolfson Hillel Primary School
- Worcesters Primary School
- Wren Academy
