Esther Ghey, the mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey, is calling on the government to impose a ban on mobile phones in schools. She believes this measure will not only safeguard children but also enhance their behaviour and engagement in class. Brianna, aged sixteen, lost her life in February twenty twenty-three, having been lured to a park in Warrington, where she was tragically stabbed by two fifteen-year-olds. Prior to the incident, Brianna struggled with a phone addiction, as her killers explored the dark web.

Esther’s Phone Free Education campaign stems from her experiences as a parent and the detrimental impact that Brianna’s phone use had on her education and wellbeing. “All the arguments that Brianna and I had were down to her phone use,” Esther explained. The challenges presented by Brianna’s addiction extended into her school life, leading to numerous recorded safeguarding logs and behaviour incidents.

Research from the Children’s Commission indicates that seventy-nine per cent of secondary schools currently permit mobile phones on their premises. Brianna’s former school, Birchwood Community High School in Warrington, implemented a phone ban last September to positive effect. This initiative includes students turning off their phones and placing them in locked pouches during the school day. Headteacher Emma Mills reported improvements in attendance and behaviour, noting that this year marked an unprecedented absence of permanent exclusions.

Esther Ghey aims to secure government backing for her campaign, requesting statutory guidance on mobile phone use and necessary funding for schools to enforce the ban. High-profile supporters of the campaign, including actress Kate Winslet and actor Stephen Graham, lend weight to her call for a societal shift towards tech-free educational environments. Esther believes prioritising real-world interactions is vital for the next generation’s development and future success.