Campaigner Esther Ghey will join Cheshire's Police and Crime Commissioner to discuss growing concerns about the impact of mobile phones on young people.

The free panel discussion, one of more than 100 events taking place as part of Chester Festival of Ideas, will explore the challenges schools face around smartphone use and online safety.

Esther, founder of the Brianna Ghey Legacy Project, has become a leading voice on online safety and phone-free education since the death of her daughter, Brianna. She has taken her campaign to Parliament, appeared widely in national media, and is the author of Under a Pink Sky.

Joining Esther on the panel will be Dan Price and Tom Kearns, headteacher at Queen's Park High School and Chester International School. The discussion will be chaired by the University of Chester's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Eunice Simmons.

The event will take place at Chester Town Hall on Thursday 2 July, from 5.30pm to 6.45pm.

Katherine Wilson, director of Chester Festival of Ideas, said: "With increasing pressure on schools to act, what are the challenges they face and how might these be addressed? Join our panellists and chair for a discussion about this crucial issue."

Mr Price, who was elected Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner in May 2024, has made phone-free schools a key priority.

Under his leadership, around three-quarters of state secondary schools in Cheshire have adopted, or plan to introduce, lockable phone pouches, with the aim of reaching all schools in the county.

advertisement

You can find free tickets for the event here.