Brianna Ghey’s school says pupils ‘less stressed’ after mobile phone ban

Emma Mills, head of Birchwood Community High School in Warrington, Cheshire, told The Mirror that special pouches used to lock students’ phones during the day were introduced in September.

Her comments come amid calls from the National Education Union (NEU) and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch for the Government to bring in a statutory ban on mobile phones in schools.

Ms Mills said the move is “allowing kids to be kids again”, with pupils not able to open the pouches until home time.

She told the newspaper: “Around school, there is more chatter in the corridors at breaks and lunch, students are more focused in lessons and the number attending House competitions and enrichment activities has risen.”

She added: “Students say they like the ‘break’ from it. They say it has reduced their stress levels knowing they don’t have to think about what is happening.

“It has made them realise they can live without it. With 23 years in education, I have seen, over time, the impact that phones and social media have had on young people.

“Seeing how our behaviour and safeguarding issues around phones and the online world have nearly disappeared feels like a big moment.”

Brianna’s mother Esther Ghey supports a “blank...
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