Locking away phones. Unlocking potential

53 out of 71 state high schools in Cheshire have adopted or are in the process of adopting mobile phone pouches.

Hear from Birchwood High School about how the phone pouches work.

The big idea

Cheshire is setting the standard for the rest of the country.

Under the leadership of Police and Crime Commissioner Dan Price, every state high school in Cheshire will become phone-free during the school day — with pupils keeping their devices safely sealed in lockable pouches from the first bell to the last.

This bold initiative will make Cheshire the first county in the UK to roll out lockable phone pouches across all its state high schools — backed by up to £150,000 of funding to help schools make the switch by 2026.

“From a crime prevention perspective, this is an absolute no-brainer. Less online bullying. Less harmful content. Fewer distractions. Fewer exclusions. In Cheshire, we’ve seen the impact this can have — and now we’re leading the way.”
Dan Price, Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire

Join the movement

This is a county-wide call to action. It starts with our schools.

If you’re a headteacher who believes in a phone-free school day, we want to work with you.

Together, we can make Cheshire a place where every young person can learn, focus and thrive — free from the pressures of the digital world.

Schools: Register your interest

How it works

The Cheshire PCC’s Phone-Free Schools Fund is designed to help schools take the leap — and make it last.

The offer:

Up to £150,000 funding support over two years
Supporting pupils on free school meals
Matched funding opportunities from local partners and philanthropic sources

What schools receive:

Lockable pouches and training for staff and pupils
Parent communication materials and FAQs
Expert guidance from schools already using the system
Peer-to-peer support from within the Cheshire education community

Funding information

Find out more about the initiative and funding that is available.

Inspired by change, driven by community

This campaign builds on the momentum of the national Phone Free Education movement, launched in Parliament in 2025 by Cheshire mum Esther Ghey, whose daughter Brianna Ghey was tragically murdered in 2023.

Esther’s campaign called for a future where schools are safe spaces — free from the pressures and risks of online life.

“Dan Price is absolutely leading the way, showing real commitment to improving young people’s wellbeing and safety. Lockable phone pouches are a simple step towards creating safer and more focused classrooms. I truly hope other Police and Crime Commissioners across the country follow his lead.”
Esther Ghey, Founder, Phone Free Education

Why it matters

Phones are powerful tools. But during the school day, they can also be powerful distractions.

Even with “out of sight” mobile bans, enforcing the rules is tough. But schools that have made the move to lockable pouches are already seeing dramatic, positive change:

80% fewer online safeguarding incidents
Better concentration and behaviour
A fivefold increase in library use
More pupils joining clubs and enrichment activities

It’s a simple idea with extraordinary impact:

Lock the phone. Unlock potential.

The national picture

The evidence is clear, and the gap is wide:

79% of UK schools have only the most basic mobile phone rules
3.5% ban phones from being brought to school at all
7.9% ask students to leave phones in a secure place
1 in 5 teenagers are distracted by phones in lessons every day
13% of pupils say their school never confiscates phones, even when rules are broken

(Sources: Children’s Commissioner, April 2025; Parentkind, March 2025)

In contrast, schools that have embraced phone pouches are reporting drastic drops in exclusions — and a marked improvement in pupil wellbeing, focus, and connection.

Phone pouch calculator

Please provide the information requested so we can work out how much funding you will get back and what the total cost will be for your school.

All cost calculations use a price of £8.75 per phone pouch.

Please be aware that costs may be different if the pouches are bought outside of the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner’s buying process.

Enter the number of pupils on free school meals Number of pupils on Free School Meals Enter the number of all other pupils in the school Number of all other pupils in school

Estimated FSM Reimbursement: £0.00
Estimated amount to be reimbursed for FSM students (£8.75 each)

Estimated Other Reimbursement: £0.00
Estimated amount reimbursed for other students (£3 each)

Total Estimated Reimbursement: £0.00
Estimated total funding the school can claim back

Total Estimated Implementation Cost: £0.00
Estimated total cost to buy pouches (£8.75 each)

Estimated Net Cost To School: £0.00
Estimated cost school must cover after reimbursement

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