The French government has confirmed that a ban on mobile phones in state high schools will take effect with the start of the September 2026 school year. The rule covers all connected devices, including tablets and smartwatches, as well as phones without internet access, and extends a ban already in place for younger students since 2018.
The measure applies only to public schools, with private institutions free to set their own policies. Each high school must now work out its own enforcement details through internal school rules, whether that means individual lockers, shared storage boxes, or lockable pouches students can only open once they leave the premises. Violations can lead to confiscation or disciplinary action.
Exceptions are built in for supervised educational use, practical needs such as the library or cafeteria, and medical reasons, particularly for students with disabilities or health conditions. Some schools are also allowing phone use during lunch breaks or in the library.
The ban is part of a broader law passed by parliament in July that also sought to bar social media access for children under 15. France's constitutional council struck down that social media provision, a setback for the government, but left the high school phone ban intact.
This account draws on reporting by Le Monde.