Cranleigh School is hosting a one-day conference on Technology and Teenage Mental Health in March, in association with mental health charity the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust. The conference will host Heads, Deputies and Pastoral Leads from a range of South East schools and feature experts from the fields of neuroscience, mental wellness and adolescent psychology.
Deputy Head (Pastoral) Dr Andrea Saxel said: “So much disparate research on the impact of technology on teenage mental health is being undertaken at the moment. Quite rightly it is a matter of concern for schools and parents alike. We felt there was a compelling need for a conference to address the issues all together. We will hold a similar conference for parents.”
Earlier this year, Cranleigh become the first boarding school in the UK to prohibit the use of mobile phones for pupils in its first two year groups (Years 9 and 10). The dedicated co-educational boarding school educates pupils from age 13 to 18. Staff claim that the move has proved popular with parents and pupils alike.
Booking has now opened for the conference on 8th March. It includes keynote speeches from: Clinical and Developmental Psychologist Dr John Coleman; Neuroscientist, columnist and stand-up comedian DR Dean Burnett; founder of the Everyday Sexism Project Laura Bates BEM; Pooky Knightsmith, Director of the Schools Programme at the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust; and Dr Andra Saxel. Workshops will be led by: Vicki Shotbolt, CEO of ParentZone; Claire Eastham, author of We’re All Mad Here; and Sam Cooke, Housemaster at Cranleigh.
The Conference aims to bring together educators with an interest in the impact of technology on teenage mental health, to share ideas and experiences, to learn from pioneering work going on in this area and to create a network of links and best practice.
The event is open to all who share an interest in the field, whether at primary or secondary level, state or independent schools. It will also feature an exhibition, as well as opportunities for networking. A number of fully funded places are available for schools that may benefit. See here for details.
