Now ban phones in ALL schools

Murdered Brianna's mum speaks out as trust acts to protect kids' mental health

- SASKIA ROWLANDS

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.

Last night 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.

WELFARE

"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.