'Keep mobile phones out of the classroom', Lancashire schools told
Dozens of schools from across a Lancashire district have been told that their pupils would benefit from a smartphone-free education.
Representatives from more than 40 primaries and secondaries in Hyndburn gathered for an event that heard from the mother of a murdered teenager about the harm her own daughter encountered online.
It was organised by one of the borough’s headteachers, who is convinced that mobile phone use amongst young people is a problem that needs tackling.
James McBride, who leads West End Primary School in Oswaldtwistle, says he wants to help develop a "consistent" approach to the issue, which would help limit the impact of mobiles on still-developing minds.
The meeting, held at the ground of Accrington Stanley, was addressed by Esther Ghey, whose 16-year-old Brianna was killed by two of her peers in 2023. The pair convicted of her murder had been consuming extreme content online.
The inquest into Brianna’s death later heard that she was herself “immersed in darkness" before she died.
At the schools event, Esther talked about how her daughter had been exposed to harmful online content and was battling anorexia, self-harm and isolation - all worsened by what she saw on the web. Her education had suffered, as she skipped lessons to go on TikTok, refused to hand over her phone at school and struggled to engage.
Esther has since founded the Brianna Ghey Legacy Project, which campaigns to keep phones out of schools.
She said: “I started this campaign to protect other children from the harms Brianna faced. Smartphones and social media can expose young people to dangerous content, fuel anxiety, and make it harder for them to connect with others. They affect mental health, concentration, and the ability to engage fully with life and learning.
“Every child deserves the chance to grow up in a safe, supportive environment, free from the pressures and dangers that constant access to phones can bring. By raising awareness and working together, we can help ensure children have the focus, safety and wellbeing they need to thrive.”
James McBride added after the event: “The turnout from over 40 schools shows how much our local community cares about this issue. No school can tackle it alone, which is why we are committed to working together with parents and other schools across Hyndburn.
“We want to create a consistent approach across our schools in the borough that will support our students. This begins at primary schools by promoting the principles of a ‘smartphone-free childhood’ to parents and then continues at high schools through the adoption of mobile phone policies that help students focus and teachers teach without distractions."
The Accrington gathering was also addressed by Hyndburn’s Labour MP Sarah Smith, who praised Esther’s “courage in turning such unimaginable grief into action”.
She later added: “Social media impacts children differently, with many often affected in terms of self-esteem and others exposed to violent content.
“Children are spending more time indoors with devices - and this affects concentration, mental health and social development. We are also seeing a generation that interacts less with each other and more through screens.
“At a national level, we are acting by consulting on minimum ages for social media, phone curfews, and addictive app features. Stronger online safety laws are also in place, requiring tech companies to protect children from harmful content.
“Events like this show that local communities can play a vital role in supporting these national measures, and I hope to see smartphone-free education across Hyndburn and Haslingden.”