The Internet is increasingly becoming more prominent in our everyday lives. The arrival of Social Networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and online gaming are changing the way people talk to each other and this is very much the case for teenagers and young people. Mobile phones have increased the freedom to communicate with instant messages and photographs which in turn can bring problems and risks for young people.

In school, your child will have lessons on E-safety and as part of the Community and Lifeskills and Computing lessons and to keep you informed of the safety issues, you can browse through the different links on this web page and also look out for when the next parent information / discussion meeting is.

Areas Covered in Computing*, Community and Lifeskills Lessons

• Privacy Security

Pupils and students learn strategies for managing their online information and keeping it secure from online risks such as identity thieves and phishing. They learn how to create strong passwords, how to avoid scams and schemes, and how to analyse privacy policies.

• Self-Image Identity

These lessons are designed to help students and students explore their own digital lives, focusing on their online versus their offline identity. Pupils and students learn the benefits and risks of personas and the effects on their sense of self, their reputation, and their relationships.

• Relationships Communication

Pupils and students reflect on how they can use intrapersonal and interpersonal skills to build and strengthen positive online communication and communities. They delve into the concept of digital citizenship and digital ethics, and they reflect on their online interactions.

• Cyberbullying

Pupils and students learn what to do if they are involved in a cyberbullying situation. They explore the roles people play and how individual actions – both negative and positive – can impact their friends and broader communities. Pupils and students are encouraged to take the active role of up stander and build positive, supportive online communities.

• Digital Footprint Reputation

Pupils and students learn to protect their own privacy and respect others’ privacy. Our digital world is permanent, and with each post students and students are building a digital footprint. By encouraging students and students to self-reflect before they self-reveal, they will consider how what they share online can impact themselves and others.

• Creative Credit Copyright

Living in a “copy/paste” culture, students and students need to reflect on their responsibilities and rights as creators in the online spaces where they consume, create, and share information. From addressing plagiarism to piracy, students and students learn about copyright and fair use.

• Information Literacy

Information Literacy includes the ability to identify, find, evaluate, and use information effectively. From effective search strategies to evaluation techniques, students and students learn how to evaluate the quality, credibility, and validity of websites, and give proper credit.

• Internet Safety

Pupils and students explore how the internet offers an amazing way to collaborate with others worldwide, while staying safe through employing strategies such as distinguishing between inappropriate contact and positive connections. These foundational skills are just the beginning!

*Computing focuses on considers applying the theory to the practical work.

If you would like more information on E-safety please email Karen Gray