Ofqual’s chief regulator, Sir Ian Bauckham, has urged students to leave mobile phones and smart devices outside exam halls as the summer 2026 GCSE and A Level examinations begin. In 2025, 2,225 instances of phone‑related cheating were recorded, the highest number each year since 2018, with 545 students disqualified and 1,240 losing marks. The organisation warns that penalties can impact university applications, apprenticeship offers and employment prospects. Bauckham told students that the rules are simple: keep phones at home or hand them over before entering the exam venue. Violations can result in loss of marks or subject disqualification. Students are reminded that the policy applies to all exam locations across England.
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