Beyond the Screen: Schools’ Digital Safety and Mobile Use Summit

Mobile phones are everywhere and so are the risks. In the wake of the hit TV series Adolescence and increasing media attention, public scrutiny has intensified around how schools respond to the complex online world their pupils inhabit.  

Beyond the Screen is a one-day national summit designed to address these urgent challenges head-on. Delivered in association with The Bridge and Schools Week, this event brings together school leaders, safeguarding professionals, digital experts, and policy thinkers to unpack what really works when it comes to managing mobile phone use, tackling online harms, and fostering a digital culture that prioritises wellbeing and safety. 

This summit provides a unique and holistic view of the issue from all angles: academic, practical, governmental, and psychological. You will move beyond the headlines and get the inside track on the growing consensus that mobile phones and social media are a major distraction and a detriment to student mental health. But what about the effects on teachers, parents, and the wider school community? This is your chance to get a complete picture and learn from those who are actively implementing solutions. 

What to expect:  

You will hear from a diverse and influential lineup of speakers, including: 

• A powerful panel on phone-free schools: hear from Damian McBeath, a principal with firsthand experience in managing mobile phone use; Will Orr-Ewing, a key voice in the UK education debate presenting the latest research on behalf of Smartphone Free Schools. Will’s talk will draw on his experience as a campaigner for Smartphone Free Schools and as a judicial review litigant against the government based on the position that smartphone access at school undermines a school’s duty to safeguard children.

• A collaborative panel on misinformation, led by Public First, who will present new findings on countering online conspiracies and misinformation in schools with the National Institute of Teaching and the Institute of Education providing critical insights and practical tools for teachers.   

• Lizzie Hacking, Director of External Affairs at YONDR will highlight the impact on teacher wellbeing and time management, as well as wider trends linked to parental engagement and teacher retention.

• Aylesbury Grammar School will reveal their research on the benefits and challenges of internet-connected devices from the perspective of students and parents, and vital information will be shared by Health Professionals on the detrimental effects of mobile phones on children’s mental and physical health. 
    

You will also have multiple opportunities for live Q&A, giving you the chance to engage directly with these leading experts and get your most pressing questions answered. This event is not just about what is happening; it is about what you can do about it. 

Who should attend? 

This summit is essential for those leading, shaping or delivering digital safety and behaviour strategies in schools and trusts, including: 

• Headteachers and principals 

• Senior leaders (DSLs, DDSLs, Deputies and Assistant Heads) 

• Designated safeguarding leads and pastoral leaders 

• Governance professionals 

• Behaviour and attendance leads 

• IT and/or EdTech leads 

• PSHE and RSE coordinators 

• Inclusion, SEND and wellbeing practitioners 

• Policy advisors and local authority professionals. 

Whether you are setting policy at Trust level or delivering safeguarding on the ground, Beyond the Screen will equip you with the tools, insights, and connections to strengthen your approach to mobile phone use and digital safety. 

Join us as we look beyond the screen – towards a safer, more supportive digital future for all our learners. 

Places are limited. Book from 1st September to benefit from a 15% discount. Offer ends on 30th September.