Safer Internet Week

In line with our commitment to fostering responsible digital citizens, St. Julian’s School actively participated in Safer Internet Week, held from 15 April to 19 April. This year's theme, "Making a difference, managing influence and navigating change online," resonated deeply with our diverse student body, sparking a week of engaging activities and thought-provoking discussions that addressed the ever-evolving landscape of the internet.

Primary Section

KS1

In years 1-4, students learned about what to do if something unexpected happens while they are online, for example playing a game or watching a video. They learned to recognise how seeing different things online can change their feelings and know how to get help from a trusted adult if they are feeling upset, worried or scared by something they have seen online.

KS2

In Year 5 and Year 6, students looked at some of the risks associated with using Social Media platforms, especially if they are under the minimum age for those platforms (which is normally 13+ in Europe). They also learned about some apps that they could use for messaging each other that are safer than WhatsApp or Snapchat, which both have a minimum age requirement of 13+.

Secondary Section

Throughout the week there were a series of activities taking place in tutor time and there were Safer Internet lesson starters being used throughout the Secondary Section. These covered a range of topics including Artificial Intelligence, timelines of technology development, techniques for identifying negative influence, identifying phishing attacks and scams, spotting fake news, techniques to reduce screen time etc.

Students actively participated in Safer Internet Day with engaging assemblies for Key Stage 3 (KS3), Year 10, and Year 12 students. These assemblies provided a platform for students to share their positive online experiences and engage in discussions centred around critical themes related to online safety.

The discourse within each age group revealed intriguing variances, offering valuable insights that will inform the development of targeted resources and support systems. This tailored approach aims to empower students of all ages to navigate the digital world with confidence and responsibility.

Particular recognition is due to Head Boy and Head Girl, Tomás and Catarina, who spearheaded the assembly for their year group. The students actively participated in brainstorming solutions, fostering a collaborative environment aimed at creating a safer online experience for the entire school community.

Year 10

Parent Workshop

We're excited to share a recap of our successful parent workshop, which took place on Wednesday, April 17th, focused on promoting a safe internet environment for your child at home.

Exploring Online Safety Together:

Mr Brooke kicked off the workshop with an engaging presentation on the theme of internet safety for the current week. Through interactive activities, he explored practical ways you can help your child navigate the online world confidently. Additionally, the presentation provided a valuable collection of resources to empower you at home.

Mastering Parental Controls:

Mr Harrison followed up with a helpful session on setting up and using parental controls on popular devices. He covered both Apple devices and Google Family Link, providing step-by-step guidance to ensure you have the tools you need to create a safe online experience for your child.

This is Just the Beginning!

This workshop is just another step in our ongoing commitment to collaborating with parents on fostering a positive and secure digital experience for all our students. Here's how we can continue the conversation:

Review the Resources: Don't forget to check out the resources mentioned in Mr. Brooke's presentation. These tools and websites are designed to support you in guiding your child's online activities.

Stay Connected: We encourage you to reach out to Mr Brooke or Mr Harrison with any questions or concerns you may have about internet safety.

Future Workshops: We're always looking for ways to partner with parents. Be on the lookout for upcoming workshops on related topics like managing screen time, cyberbullying prevention, and social media safety.

By working together, we can create a safe and enriching online environment for our children to explore and learn.

Look at creating a family agreement to ensure you are all working together for a safer internet at home and for families with younger children look to implement the parental controls for Apple and Google that were detailed in the workshop. 

Our excellent parent website has a wide range of resources and information that can help support you and your children. 

Advice for parents

Here are some resources for the key areas that parents have been looking for advice and support for this week. 

Safe Messaging apps for younger children - alternatives for WhatsApp and Snapchat.

Family agreements - A family agreement is a great way to start a conversation with your whole family about how you all use the internet.

Parental Controls - A guide to setting parental controls on the technology in your home.

Mr Michael Brooke, Whole-School Deputy Principal and Director of Technology and Mr Will Harrison, Primary Computing Teacher and Technology Integration Specialist