Esther Ghey has urged the Government to fund pouches that lock pupils’ phones away during the school day, arguing a statutory ban would have helped her daughter Brianna Ghey. She has launched an open letter to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer seeking a nationwide ban on school phone use. The campaign highlights a system already in place at Birchwood Community High School in Warrington.

Ms Ghey pointed to Brianna’s three years at Birchwood, during which the school recorded around 120 safeguarding logs and 116 behaviour incidents linked to phone use. She described risks that included online exploitation and content connected to self-harm and eating disorders. At Birchwood, phones are locked in pouches on arrival and carried by students; the school also uses measures to prevent a second device and provides Velcro pouches for pupils with health needs or who are carers.

Headteacher Emma Mills says the change has reduced pupil stress. Birchwood argues funding is needed because headteachers sometimes face a choice between hiring staff and buying pouches. A survey by the Children’s Commissioner found most secondary and primary schools have policies to curb phone use, though around 10% of secondary schools allow some use during the day. In related discussions, there have been reports that the government is considering limits on social media; Ms Ghey says under-16s should not use social media. In Brianna’s case, two people were convicted in 2023 and given minimum terms of 22 and 20 years.