There will be no Wales-wide ban on mobile phones in schools — with First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth saying his new Plaid Cymru Welsh Government will instead “empower schools” to make their own decisions on whether and how to restrict phone use during the school day.
The position, set out by the First Minister at the Urdd Eisteddfod on Anglesey on Tuesday and first reported by BBC Wales, marks a clear divergence from England — where the UK Government is preparing to pass a law requiring schools to be free of smartphones throughout the school day.
Decision rests with individual schools and governing bodies
In Wales, the decision to ban or restrict mobile phones for pupils remains a matter for individual schools and their governing bodies. The Welsh Government will not require schools to act, and there is no suggestion that direction will change.
That means parents in Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot and Pembrokeshire may find different phone rules at different schools — with some local schools and headteachers already having moved to restrict or ban phones, and others taking different approaches.
The First Minister told BBC Wales he wanted his government to “facilitate schools to take the decisions that they feel are right to protect children and young people.”
“I don’t think of it in terms of a ban, I think about it as action on a number of different fronts,” Mr ap Iorwerth said.
“We will empower schools and school leaders to make decisions that they feel is right for pupils. Many schools and school leaders have already taken those measures.”
Plaid manifesto promise
Plaid Cymru’s manifesto for the May 2026 Senedd election had committed to “empower local authorities to promote students’ safety, learning and wellbeing through restricting the use of smartphones in schools for under-16s” — working with councils and school leaders to deliver this “in a practical and proportionate way, with appropriate exemptions where necessary.”
Tuesday’s comments confirm that the route Plaid will take is empowerment of schools rather than legal compulsion — leaving the decision firmly with local headteachers and governing bodies.
Action on social media “needs to be taken”
The First Minister was speaking as a UK Government consultation on the impact of social media on children under 16 closes — with UK Technology Secretary Liz Kendall pledging new measures for under-16s in England by the end of 2026.
While ruling out a phone ban in schools, Mr ap Iorwerth said action on under-16s’ use of social media “needs to be taken” and signalled the Welsh Government would follow the evidence in deciding how to respond.
“The evidence is getting stronger and stronger,” he said. “When you have evidence suggesting to you that the use of social media by children and young people can be as harmful as smoking tobacco, you take that very, very seriously.
“I am clear that action needs to be taken. It’s important though that it’s evidence based.”
Live issue in Swansea
The First Minister’s comments come amid intense local debate over children’s social media use in Swansea, where last month a packed public meeting heard parents, teachers and residents share concerns about technology and children.
Swansea West MP Torsten Bell, who convened the meeting at the city’s Guildhall, told attendees the issue had generated more letters to his office than any other policy issue this year.
Mr Bell himself posted on Facebook on Tuesday afternoon — within an hour of the First Minister’s comments at the Urdd Eisteddfod — urging Swansea constituents to use the final day of the UK Government consultation to “have your say” on protecting children online.
“Children’s use of social media is the top issue constituents in Swansea have written to me about this year so far,” he wrote. “Today is the last opportunity to tell the UK Government what you think should be done to protect kids growing up in the online world.” He included a link to his constituency survey at torstenbell.org/social-media-debate.
The Welsh Government’s position therefore lands in a constituency where parental concern about children, phones and social media has already been articulated publicly — and where there is no single, consistent approach from local schools.
Welsh Conservatives: ‘Plaid must go further’
The First Minister’s position has drawn criticism from the Welsh Conservatives, who say Plaid Cymru must commit to stronger action to protect children in Wales.
Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Education, Families and Constitution Sam Rowlands MS said experts continue to warn about the harms of social media for children, with some comparing its impact to smoking.
“While the UK Government is acting on the damages that social media causes, the First Minister in Wales is dithering on restricting social media for under-16s and has ruled out a Wales-wide ban on mobile phones in schools,” Mr Rowlands said.
“The Welsh Conservatives say Plaid Cymru must go further and commit to stronger action to protect under-16s in Wales.”
What it means for parents in south-west Wales
For families in Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot and Pembrokeshire, the practical effect of the First Minister’s position is that nothing changes from a Welsh Government level — with phone policy continuing to vary school by school.
Some local schools have already introduced “no phones during the school day” policies or banned mobile devices from classrooms entirely. Others allow phones to be carried on the basis they remain switched off or out of sight. Parents wanting to know the position at their child’s school will need to ask the school directly.
