<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mobile phones, smartwatches and wireless headphones will soon be banned in every classroom in Victoria after the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/student-phone-ban-victorian-state-schools-to-bar-mobiles-cyber-bullying/b075b60a-45b0-4fbb-8dff-8d55f742476b" rel="" target="_blank" title="government extended its device crackdown to private schools."><span>government extended its device crackdown to private schools.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/victoria" rel="" target="" title="Victoria's"><span>Victoria's</span></a><span> nation-first phone ban was first introduced to government schools in 2020 and will now capture all </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/schools" rel="" target="_blank" title="schools"><span>schools</span></a><span>, including private and Catholic, from January 28, 2027.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Students will not be allowed to use smartphones or wearable devices such as Apple watches and wireless earbuds during school hours under the expanded legislation announced today.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-april-1-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/b278c5bf-bd0a-4bfa-8d33-52238e106fdf" target="_blank"><strong><span>Trump lashes out at allies again</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/gregory-hills-gym-shooting-three-men-charged-sydney/9108efbd-4b6e-4600-941e-8172ac8136ac" target="_blank"><strong><span>Three charged over brazen daylight shooting outside Sydney gym</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The law will require all mobile phones to be switched off and stored away until the final bell, while wearable devices must have internet connections, recording functions and notifications turned off.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Victoria will be the first state or territory in Australia to outlaw wearable technology on school grounds.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/victoria-school-phone-ban-extended-to-every-school-in-state/5353716a-6af7-429c-9c3b-5c26127121f3" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Exceptions will apply for students who require devices for health reasons.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In the case of an emergency, parents or guardians can reach their child by calling the school.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Students were found to be more focused during classwork and more social during breaks after the ban was first introduced in 2020, according to an independent review.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Government schools also reported fewer incidents involving phones.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The evidence shows it worked and now we're going further, so every Victorian student, in every Victorian school, can put their phone away and focus on learning," Victoria's Education Minister Ben Carroll said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/double-demerits-dates-2026-easter-long-weekend-state-by-state-penalties-fines/c3cd9f28-121f-48bb-a11c-fb84fb9f9ed7" target="_blank"><strong><span>All the roads where double demerits don't apply this Easter long weekend</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The universal, state-wide ban will reduce screen time and encourage more "learning time" for students, Premier Jacinta Allan added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Independent and Catholic school bosses have supported the imminent legislation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We welcome today's announcement and acknowledge the government's efforts to balance access to electronic devices with the need to support positive learning environments and student wellbeing," Independent Schools Victoria Chief Executive Rachel Holthouse said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After Victoria introduced the ban in 2020, almost every other Australian states and territory followed suit with similar legislation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Today's announcement follows federal legislation introduced in December last year which </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/tiktok-instagram-facebook-snapchat-youtube-flagged-social-media-age-ban-compliance-issues-esafety-commissioner/16949788-5959-4a22-8575-525530d39602" rel="" target="" title="bans children under the age of 16 from accessing social media."><span>bans children under the age of 16 from accessing social media.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>