Schools should adapt to technological change, but be wary of the impact it has on young people, says Mark Turner, Headmaster of Shrewsbury School, Shropshire
Throughout my 20 years as a Headteacher at three different schools, one of the biggest drivers for change in education has been technology.
There is no doubt that it has proven to be enormously beneficial to the school sector ? it makes it easier for us to contact parents or alumni, rather than staff spending hours stuffing letters into envelopes, as was the case in days gone by. Now, communication can be achieved with a couple of minutes typing and the press of a button.

“pupils were less plugged in and able to enjoy each other’s company in a relaxed way.”

And yet, there is little doubt in the minds of teachers that the generally unregulated, ?wild west? of the internet has opened a wealth of possibilities, and not all these are positive. Find out more about Shrewsbury School, Shropshire on our Schools Directory
While a centrefold pin-up might have graced the wall of a boy boarder?s bedsit in the 1970s ? such things would probably be banned today ? it is quite ironic that pupils these days have access to far more concerning material. Probably most significant is the constant bombardment that many teenagers feel from social media, and a constant need to be ?liked?.
A 24-hour detox
So, in an attempt to turn back the tide, many schools, including Shrewsbury, decided to embrace ?The Digital Detox?. W...