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Murdered Brianna Ghey's mum backs total ban on kids having smartphones at school

Football | September 15, 2024 10:39 AM CST

The mum of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey is calling for a smartphone ban at all schools after a trust became the first in England to bar them over fears for children’s mental health.

Esther Ghey said the government must now act without delay and protect every pupil – by outlawing mobiles in every classroom.

Tonight she said: “I fully support a mobile phone ban in all schools and I think the government should make this mandatory rather than just a recommendation. I know that this isn’t the answer to all our problems, but it would be a great step forward. To solve this, we will all need to come together to stand up for the welfare of children online.”

Esther, 37, has been urging the government to introduce child-safe phones since her beloved daughter Brianna, 16, was stabbed to death by two teenagers who used Snapchat to plan her horrific murder.

But she called for the total ban on smartphones in the classroom after Ormiston Academies Trust – which runs 44 state schools across England – announced plans to remove mobiles from its 35,000 pupils.

Trust chief Tom Rees said he was left with little choice after witnessing the “catastrophic” consequences web apps can have on kids’ mental health.

He said: “We’re...seeing real concerns about self-harm, attempted suicide, A&E admissions. We’re seeing a clear correlation between that and mobile phone and social media use, in particular. There is a responsibility for society to respond and a responsibility for schools to make it harder for children to access inappropriate content through the school day.”

The Department for Education has issued guidance intended to stop the use of mobiles at school to “minimise disruption and improve behaviour in classrooms”.

But Ormiston’s new measures are being introduced as a direct result of mental health concerns. Eight of its secondary schools have piloted “different approaches” for the autumn term after consultation with parents, including one that has gone phone-free. Phone access is already prohibited at its primary, special needs and alternative provision schools.

Some other schools in England also restrict mobile use. At Birchwood High School near Warrington, where Brianna was a pupil, students have to lock their phones in special pouches.

Ministers have shown interest in measures being introduced by the Australian government to set a minimum age for children to access platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.

Earlier this month, Australian PM Anthony Albanese said his government plans to act amid concerns some platforms have a negative affect on young people’s physical and mental health.

Labour’s Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “I’m really interested in the measures that Anthony Albanese is looking at. We don’t yet have much evidence about what action makes a big difference...so I’m looking very closely at the Australian experience.”

Nearly every UK child over 12 has a mobile and almost all watch videos online, according to Ofcom. The Online Safety Act, due to come into force next year, puts the onus on social media firms and search engines to protect children

But campaigners say it is too soft. Ian Russell – whose daughter Molly, 14, took her own life after viewing posts about suicide – told us: “We are absolutely calling for the new government to...look into the part of the Online Safety Act that needs strengthening and act without delay.”

Tragic Brianna, who was transgender, was lured to a park and stabbed 28 times in Culcheth, near Warrington, on February 11, 2023. Killers Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe, both 16, were jailed for life in February.

Most online platforms have yet to comment on safety fears. But Snapchat has acknowledged its “responsibilities to create a safe and positive experience”. And Meta said it wants to give young people “an environment where they feel safe”.