The Headteacher’s Message: Schooling Beyond Screens

While Highgate’s royal spotlight is growing, its leadership has also taken a bold stance on a very modern issue: screen time among students.

Adam Pettitt, Highgate’s headteacher since 2006, recently made headlines by urging parents to rethink how children use mobile phones. He’s advocated for strict limitations on phone use in schools, emphasizing the need for more face-to-face interaction and less digital dependency.

“Age-based limits on mobile phone use are a welcome first step,” Pettitt wrote in The Times. “But how adults spend time with children is paramount. Children need to play, to have protected screen-free time, and to enjoy fun, shared experiences with the adults who care for them.”

This message aligns with broader concerns from educators across the UK who warn about the negative impact excessive screen exposure can have on children’s mental health, attention spans, and social skills.

A Modern Royal Childhood in the Making

Ultimately, where Prince George ends up going to school is about more than prestige. It reflects the royal family’s evolving vision of what it means to raise a future monarch in the 21st century.

Will William and Kate stick with tradition and send George to Eton? Or will they pivot toward a more modern and nurturing environment like Highgate — one that balances academic rigor with creative exploration and emotional well-being?

Whatever their final decision, it’s clear that George’s education is being treated with care — not just as a private family matter, but as a public symbol of the kind of king he may one day become.

What do you think? Should royals like Prince George attend traditional boarding schools, or is it time for a more modern approach to royal education?