As schools across Australia reassess the role of technology in the classroom, The Illawarra Grammar School has been recognised in several major media outlets for its leadership in reducing screen time to create more focused learning environments.

The national conversation reflects growing concern among educators, parents and researchers about the impact of excessive device use on student attention and academic achievement.

As reported in The Australian: “Principal Julie Greenhalgh at The Illawarra Grammar School in NSW overhauled her school’s screen policy this year to deal with distraction in class and increase handwriting time. Senior students now must place their laptop under their chair when entering the classroom and only bring it out when necessary.”

Importantly, Illawarra Grammar is not moving away from technology altogether. Rather, the School is focused on using technology purposefully, where it adds clear value and helps students develop important digital skills. This approach is informed by growing evidence on the cognitive benefits of handwriting, with evidence suggesting that writing by hand supports deeper processing of information and improves long-term learning outcomes compared with typing.