Beyond the Screen:
Schools’ Digital Safety and Mobile Use Summit
Tuesday 23rd September 2025, 9:30am – 4:00pm
EdCity Walk, London, W12 7TN
Beyond the Screen
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.
- Compelling evidence, including Ofsted outcomes on the positive impact of phone-free environments on student engagement and behaviours will be presented by YONDR.
- 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.
Agenda
Additional information on the agenda will be available shortly.
08:30 – 09:20 | Registration
09:20 – 09:30 | Welcome remarks
Iain Henderson, Director of The Bridge, Wellington College
09:30 – 10:30 | Smartphone-Free Schools: Reducing Digital Distraction
How can schools tackle the impact of smartphones on focus, behaviour and wellbeing?
Join Damian McBeth, Will Orr-Ewing and Clare Fernyhough Reynolds for short keynotes and a panel discussion on managing mobile use, supporting parents, and creating calmer, more focused learning environments.
10:30 – 11:00 | Aylesbury Grammar School: Student and Parent Research on Devices
What do students and parents really think about smartphones and gaming platforms?
This session shares findings from Aylesbury Grammar School’s annual research programme, exploring the perceived benefits and challenges of internet-connected devices – and what it means for schools today.
11:00 – 11:30 | Break
11:30 –12:30 | Countering Online Conspiracies in Schools
From misinformation to conspiracy theories, today’s learners are navigating a digital world where false narratives spread fast and influence behaviour.
Join Dr Sally Burtonshaw (Public First), Pip Sanderston (National Institute of Education), and Dr Jeremy Hayward (UCL’s Institute of Education) as they explore how young people access and interpret information, the growing impact of online conspiracies, and how schools can equip teachers to respond with confidence.
12:30 –13:00 | Screens, Smartphones and Student Health
What does the research really say about the impact of mobile devices on children’s health?
In this powerful and practical session, Dr Jennifer Lee from Health Professionals for Safer Screens shares up-to-date research on how smartphones and internet-connected devices are affecting young people’s mental and physical wellbeing — including links to anxiety, sleep disruption, reduced attention, posture issues and screen addiction.
Dr Lee will explore what schools need to know, what parents should understand, and the small changes that can make a big difference.
13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch
14:00 – 15:00 | The Unexpected Benefits of a Phone-Free School
What really happens when a school goes phone-free — and what can we learn from those that already have?
Join Derek Young (UK Sales Lead) and Lizzie Hacking (Director of External Affairs) from YONDR as they share insights from over 500 UK schools using phone-free solutions, alongside emerging international legislation and growing global momentum for change.
This session explores the unexpected benefits of creating truly phone-free learning environments — including improved behaviour, reduced anxiety, better staff wellbeing, and stronger school–home partnerships. Backed by evidence-based research, they’ll also share links to improved Ofsted outcomes and the wider cultural impact on school communities.
15:00 – 15:45 | Close
(Agenda subject to change)
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.
Attendee Fee: £100 + VAT per person
The Bridge offer significant discounts to state and partner schools by selecting the relevant link below:
STATE SCHOOLS buy tickets here
ALL OTHER ATTENDEES buy tickets here