A letter from The Head – 29 October 2025

Dear Parents,

Reclaiming Childhood

The march, power and ubiquity of the machine are very real. It has usurped our way of being and transformed how we function daily and how we make decisions, which are both of significance and consequential and those which are merely utilitarian. Indeed, much of the utilitarian employment of technology has altered our world so fundamentally that trying to function in isolation, in an unconnected fashion, may be nigh impossible.

However, at what cost do we continue pursuing a way of being which has, at its core, a dehumanising motif?

Whilst I am well aware of my being ill-qualified to pass judgement on whether the apocalypse is either real or near, I am – along with many others – an observer of adolescents and their interaction with the world. This interaction takes on many forms as it always has, but the intensity of the barrage of on-demand, tailor-made, dopamine-inducing content at the push of a button has amplified exponentially in recent years with significant implications for all of us, but especially our youth. Researchers and commentators are fairly coherent in their summation of our current state but less agreeable on an appropriate response to this reality. Given the reality of living in this changing world, there is a very real concern that should one not embrace it wholeheartedly, one may fall behind swiftly and irretrievably.

Where does this position us?

Whilst there is every motivation to respond to this existential threat from a position of fear, history has taught us that lasting solutions always come when drawn from a wellspring of hope. Young people probably have no equal as an embodiment of hope and they, therefore, must form the basis for our response to this dehumanising threat. If, indeed, as the evidence suggests, young people have become more easily depressed, more anxious, less connected, and less able to focus since the advent of smartphones, our response should surely be to aim to reverse this trend. For the past few years, we have held the view that restricted access to smartphones and their capabilities has been an appropriate response to the risk factors associated with owning a smartphone at a young age. Recent thinking, however, supported by further evidence, suggests that restriction has not necessarily resulted in a healthier relationship with cellphone technology, in particular. Adolescents are drawn so strongly to the enticements encoded in the algorithms that they find it extremely difficult to deny themselves the pleasure of time whiled away on a screen. Who can blame them? We know the addiction component is real. Alongside this challenging reality of our youth being overrun by technology, we see the decline in reading and then in reading’s bedfellow, writing: two skills that are integral to being considered to have an education of quality. And whilst this may not be a popular view, we lose these two skills at our peril – especially in the face of the rampant march of the machine. We must surely reclaim both these skills to be able to learn more, hypothesise better and articulate a point of view intelligently and independently of a machine.

As a learning institution, these current observations have led us to reconsider our phone protocols for 2026.

As of 2026, boys from Grades 8 to 10 may not bring a smartphone to school. Instead, we will allow only phones that can make and receive calls and messages (not WhatsApp, Telegram or Signal). In other words, phones that provide internet access and allow for apps to be downloaded to the device are no longer allowed. Grade 8s will still not have a device in their first term as this has proved especially useful in helping them to settle. Grade 11s and 12s will be allowed a smartphone at Hilton but our protocols for their use will be strictly enforced. As with many leading schools, Hilton College has long prohibited cellphone use in classrooms to promote focus and meaningful engagement in learning. Restrictions have also been applied outside the classroom. This new measure, however, represents a significant step change. All boys from Grade 9 will have access to their laptops, as is presently the case, and, as such, Teams calls with family are still possible for those who may feel this shift is too dramatic. We acknowledge that some families, especially out-of-country families, may find this new arrangement challenging but we commit to finding an appropriate workaround for these families. Furthermore, some families may be concerned that we are shying away from the world of technology just as the world is immersing itself further; my counter argument is that we are still completely connected through our other tech platforms and devices, which we will continue to employ to our advantage as is appropriate. I believe this shift in policy will assist us in addressing these multiple concerns, and, although I understand this change will be difficult for some boys and some families, after much deliberation I am convinced that this course of action is the correct one at this time. My request is that you discuss this development with your son such that he is prepared for the change.

As a full boarding school, we are uniquely positioned to choose this path given our 24/7 nature, and I am excited to partner with you in this revised approach. I believe boys will be able to reclaim a childhood that is beautiful, connected and reignited around those values, habits and practices that are enduring.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Regards,
George Harris
Headmaster