Culcheth High Head Chris Hunt: Phones Out – Hearts In

03 March 2026

Vision, Vulnerability and Vigilance: Chris Hunt on Leading a Modern School in the Shadow of Social Media and the Loss of Brianna Ghey

Phil

PHIL ROBERTS
The Morning Show: 3rd March 2026

Mix 56’s ‘Meet the Head’ chat with Culcheth High School’s Chris Hunt delivered an insightful, no-holds-barred conversation on leadership, social media’s grip, and nurturing resilient young people in Warrington’s M56 corridor.

Phil Roberts welcomed the head teacher to the morning show, admitting his signature nerves around headteachers – a reaction Hunt knows well, as he avoids revealing his job to strangers to dodge the usual trio: disbelief, envy, or unsolicited advice.

Mr Hunt leads by example at the 1,200-pupil school, greeting students from 8:15am, patrolling breaks with his “surgically attached” litter picker, and dropping into lessons.

“I won’t ask anyone to do what I’m not prepared to do myself,” he told Phil.

Driving past the 16-year-old modern building, you’d miss the real magic: a “warm, inclusive” vibe of purpose and community pull-together. Every child feels seen, from registration chats to tailored opportunities in sports, drama, or even student radio – a nod to Phil’s own studio.

The school’s motto, Be the best that you can be, boils down to simple daily growth.

Hunt invokes the Dalai Lama: focus on today – live, love, believe, excel.

As a dad of two boys, he applies dad standards: “If it’s not good enough for my kids, it’s not good enough for Culcheth.” He wishes parents asked less about facilities, more about feel: “What’s important to you as head?” Success isn’t just exam results (strong as they are) but nurturing community custodianship.

Be the best that you can be

Culcheth High Head Chris Hunt: Phones Out – Hearts In Meet the Head - Chris Hunt

Social media loomed large. Mr Hunt frets over its polarity, misinformation, and addictive pull – not just for teens, but adults too.

Culcheth went fully phone-free last September: pouches lock devices from entry at 8:15am till 3:50pm. The shift? “Massive.” Pre-pouches, sneaky scrolls in toilets or laps disrupted focus; notifications hijacked attention.

Now, students are “attentive, happy, smiley,” sparking real conversations. Staff echo it; formal student feedback’s pending, but anecdotal buzz from parents and pupils is positive. Hunt admits his own “confirmation bias” underestimated the issue – and shelled out for pouches to ensure buy-in, minimal pushback.

He champions critical thinking as antidote: question sources, seek opposites, stay curious over polarised. School’s timetabled personal development curriculum embeds this, urging kindness in queries. Phones have uses, but not 24/7 in class – a view clashing with some “monetised” reports downplaying harm. He predicts UK-wide curbs, like night-time bans or age limits.

Personally, Mr Hunt compartmentalises the “tough but fabulous” role. Up at dawn (6am school Mondays/Tuesdays/Fridays), he trains Wednesdays/Thursdays, swims weekends and does post-workout ice baths for mental reset. Family, friends, and colleagues buffer him.

Chris talks about Brianna Ghey

Culcheth High Head Chris Hunt: Phones Out – Hearts In Meet the Head - Chris Hunt

The chat turned poignant on Brianna Ghey’s 2023 murder, tied to Culcheth pupils.

Police restrictions limited what could be communicated, leaving an info void filled by toxic social media. Hunt’s team focused on reassurance, support, and moral compass amid hate and scrutiny.

A Year 10 student’s check-in – “Are you okay, sir?” – embodied the school’s emotional intelligence, a highlight amid grief. Scars linger, but hope, compassion, and community pride endure.

Looking ahead, Chris Hunt eyes education’s hurdles: funding squeezes, SEND reforms, teacher recruitment.

Schools juggle teaching plus social care post-COVID. Promote positivity, he urges – teaching’s rewarding chaos. Final plea: it takes a village. Parents, community, schools – unite to shape kids ready for the world.