- Home
- Safeguarding
- Links and Further Support
- Online Safety
Online Safety
The internet is a fantastic tool that can be used to stay connected with your friends and family, access entertainment and for support with your learning and school work. There are clearly many benefits, but it’s important to also be aware of the risks and to follow the tips listed below to help you stay safe.
Top Tips for Students
- Use strong passwords, never share them, and consider setting up two-factor authentication where possible.
- Remember not everyone online is who they say they are – don’t share any personal information, even if they seem trustworthy.
- Talk to your parents or carers about where you go and what you do online, as you would in real life.
- Keep your webcam covered when not in use.
- Think before you send any photos – what are they being used for? Could they be shared further without your consent? Remember once you’ve sent an image to someone else or shared it online, anyone can make a copy of it.
- Remember even if you make a mistake there are steps you can take to reduce the resulting impact, for example, requesting that social media platforms remove content.
- Regularly review your privacy settings on apps, phones, computers or tablets.
- Consider who can see content you are sharing online and to be mindful of your online reputation.
- Always ask friends and family for consent before sharing pictures that they are in.
- Always be kind online and don’t post anything that may upset or offend someone.
- Know how to block content and report users who are harassing people or behaving in a way that is inappropriate or offensive.
- Check different sources or use a fact-checking website before believing information online or sharing it publicly. There is a lot of misinformation on the internet, make sure the information you access or share is reliable.
- Immediately leave any websites or apps where content makes you feel uncomfortable or distressed.
- Never click on links in emails or messages that then ask you to log in and share your details – it could be a scam, so it’s always best to go to the website or app directly.
- Tell a trusted adult if something is worrying you online or contact support services, such as Childline, to talk confidentially. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help, there is support available for whatever you are worried about
Cyberbullying
This is bullying but using technology to harass, threaten, embarrass or target another person. Childnet International is an excellent website which has a multitude of resources relating to cyberbullying.
Childnet Cyberbullying Overview PDF
If you suspect your child is being bullied in anyway, including cyberbullying, please inform the school by speaking to a member of the Pastoral Team or report it via the form below:
Social Networking Sites
The majority of children now have online contact with other children through a wide variety of games and social networking sites. Children should not have a Facebook account until they are 13 years old, however we realise that some children may have an account below this age. If your child does have a Facebook account or uses other social networking sites please talk to your child about the following:
- Insist that you know your child’s login details.
- Insist that you and other family members are ‘friends’ on Facebook (Then any inappropriate content can be monitored).
- Make sure your child ‘locks down’ their profile to ensure only friends can access their page, pictures, etc.
- Make sure any photos or videos are appropriate and don’t reveal personal information, such as school uniform details.
- Be aware that it is recommended that school staff are NOT ‘friends’ with pupils, or ex-pupils up to the age of 18, so please don’t be offended if any requests are not accepted.
- Ensure that your child does not accept strangers as ‘friends’. There are people and groups of people who trawl social media seeking to gain access to young people, their images and their contact numbers for illicit purposes. Young people sometimes accept complete strangers as ‘friends’ in an attempt to make themselves appear more popular without realising how much risk they are exposing themselves to.
Top Tips For Keeping Your Child Safe On Their Device or Games Console
The “Report Remove” service by Childline helps young people under 18 in the UK remove nude or sexual images/videos of themselves that have been shared online. It works with the Internet Watch Foundation to stop the images from being shared further by creating a digital fingerprint and asking platforms to remove them. The service is free, confidential, and designed to help protect young people from online exploitation and abuse.
Guides for Parents/Carers on E-Safety