Internet Safety and Wellbeing Award

The two items in my blog this week are linked. Internet safety day is 11^th February and this is the theme for our year assemblies this week. The internet, as we know, is a fantastic tool. It allows us to work, shop, book holidays, do research and most importantly communicate with each other. The last point about communication has many positive elements attached to it, but there are also some risks that you need to make sure you are aware of. Mr Thompson talked about these risks in whole-college assembly last week. It is absolutely essential that you make sure that you are the right age to use social media sites. Your privacy settings must also be high, so that you only communicate with people that you know.

If your privacy settings are not set, please make sure you do this. You need to make sure that only people you know can message you. Some apps also let others know your location – this is useful for your parents and carers to know, but not others. We talked last week in assembly about the risks associated with ‘sexting’ and said that sometimes some young people feel pressured into sending photos, sometimes without clothes on, of themselves to others. As a College, I think it is important we are open about this and that we are very clear – this is something you must not do. If someone tries to pressure you into sending ‘sexting’ type messages, please talk to us or to your parents / carers. It doesn’t matter if this person is a ‘friend’ or someone you don’t know – please, just don’t do it.

The College is also working towards achieving the ‘wellbeing in schools award,’ which is a nationally recognised accreditation. This links well with safer internet day, as sometimes social media pressures can affect wellbeing. Part of the wellbeing award requires you to complete a questionnaire on what the school does to support your mental and physical health. We will also ask your parents and staff in school for their views and then create an action plan to make what we currently do better.

Notices for the week:

• Year assemblies this week
• Year 7 parents’ evening on Wednesday
• Half-term break on Friday

Sports results:- thank you to everyone who represents our College

• Year 8 girls’ netball: MRC 15 TAS 6
• U16 Boys’ Basketball: FCC 35 MRC 23
• Year 9 girls’ netball: SPH 4 MRC 24
• U16 Girls’ Basketball: MRC 10 Luffa 18

Have a good week!