First County To See Phones Locked Away At All Secondary Schools

A new initiative to reduce online harms and improve classroom focus has launched this week across Cheshire, led by Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Dan Price. The scheme introduces lockable phone pouches in schools, following a successful pilot at the former school of murdered Warrington teenager Brianna Ghey, mobile phones will be locked away during the school day in every state high school in Cheshire.

Backed by Brianna’s mother, Esther Ghey, the initiative builds on her campaign for safer phone use in schools following her daughter’s tragic death in 2023. Esther, who launched the Phone Free Education campaign in Parliament last month, said:

“Lockable phone pouches are a simple step towards creating safer and more focused classrooms. I urge every school in Cheshire to take advantage of this amazing initiative.”

With up to £150,000 in funding secured over two years, the scheme aims to reduce online bullying, exposure to harmful content, and classroom distractions. Schools with higher numbers of pupils eligible for free school meals will be prioritised, and matched funding from public and charitable sources is expected to accelerate the rollout.

“This is an absolute no-brainer from a crime prevention perspective,” said PCC Price. “We’re talking about fewer exclusions, less online bullying, and better focus in the classroom.”

Nine Cheshire high schools have already adopted the pouches, with early data showing promising results:

• One school reported an 80% drop in online safeguarding incidents.
• Another saw a fivefold increase in library use.

The estimated cost per pupil is £8.75, which the PCC hopes to reduce through joint procurement. Participating schools will also receive implementation support, parent and pupil materials, and shared expertise from early adopters.

The initiative aims for every state high school in Cheshire to be phone-free by 2026.

According to research from the Children’s Commissioner for England, only 3.5% of UK schools currently ban phones entirely, despite growing concerns about their impact on wellbeing and safety. While most schools operate “out of sight” policies, enforcement remains a challenge.

Campaigns like Phone Free Education and Smartphone Free Childhood are helping local communities take action where national legislation has stalled—following the withdrawal of the Safer Phones Bill earlier this year.

Esther Ghey added:

“I truly hope other Police and Crime Commissioners across the country follow Dan Price’s lead.”