Phone-free school event to bring in guest speakers

Archie FarmerChannel Islands
BBC A picture of schoolchildren on their mobile phones, sat surrounding a white table.BBC
The event is set to be hosted by Smartphone Free Childhood Guernsey

A group campaigning to get parents to delay smartphone use for their children is inviting parents, teachers and other professionals to a free event aimed at educating the community and answering questions about children's smartphone use.

The event, organised by Smartphone Free Childhood Guernsey (SFCG), will take place on Saturday 20 June at Les Beaucamps High School.

Two UK experts who have worked directly on the issue will talk to attendees and there will be a chance to ask questions about practicalities.

The event will start at 10:00 BST, in what has been described by organisers as an "unmissable opportunity."

One of the speakers, David Smith, headteacher of Fulham Boys School in London, will share his experience of being one of the first state school heads in the UK to ban smartphones and require pupils to use brick phones instead.

Data protection expert Emma Martins will talk about the methods technology companies use to hook children on their platforms.

'Let's decide together'

A spokesperson for SFCG, said: "The rest of the world is no longer debating this.

"They are acting. We owe it to Guernsey's children to do the same.

"Come and hear from people who have already made the change, and let's decide together what happens next."

Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.