Sandwell Academy recognises that modern technology is an intrinsic part of modern-day life and our students use ICT extensively both in school and out of it. However along with the opportunities that ICT offers it also brings with it problems and risks that all students need to be aware of.
E-safety has a very high priority in Sandwell Academy and all students, (and staff) receive advice and guidance appropriate to their age and "e-awareness". As well as learning about e-safety in their ICT lessons, students get more targeted input during assemblies and PT time. In addition all Year 7 parents are invited, with their children, to a parents’ evening early in the new term when risks and safety measures are outlined.
Clickwise Campaign Poster | National Online Safety Team: Screen Addiction | Child Safety on Tik Tok: Factsheet
What is eSafety?
Activities in the past rarely included the use of the information and communication technology, however they are now common place. Children potentially have access to the internet through a variety of locations, home, libraries, school and not forgetting through other technology's such as mobile phones and game consoles. Using this technology brings many benefits to children, however it is not without its risks. It is important that users of this technology, be they children or adults, understand the risks and dangers and how these can be safely managed.
E-Safety stands for electronic safety. E-safety is about the safe and responsible use of information and communication technology (including the internet and mobile phones). Few would disagree that the internet has many benefits to a child including learning and communicating. It is these benefits that make the internet popular to children, however there is a downside, the internet does not have a regulatory body, this means that anyone, in any part of the world can put information on the internet. This information could include racist, extremist or perverse sexual views. Paedophiles may use the internet to their advantage to exploit and harm children.
e-safety within Sandwell Academy?
As part of our commitment to forward-thinking IT, we’re proud to use Impero’s products to help us provide a rich, yet safe, digital learning environment for our students. We hold Impero Super School status, which means we’re happy to share our experiences with other schools and talk you through anything you would like to know about Impero’s products.
e-safety Social Networking Guidelines
How you present yourself on social media says a lot about who you are —
just like what you say and do at school or with your friends. In all public
places, online and off, it's important to represent yourself as the kind of
person you want to be.
Social Media communities are where people use their real names and
identities, so we're all accountable for our actions. It's against their
terms and rules to lie about your name or age. Help keep the communities
safe by reporting fake profiles if you ever see them.
It's easy to get caught up in the moment and write or do something that may
seem hilarious at the time. But remember, what you say can really hurt
someone, or come back to haunt you. Think before you post. It only takes a
second or two. Ask yourself if you really want to say it. Make sure you
don't mind if your friends, classmates or teachers hear about it later.
Also remember that any information you post – whether in a comment, a note
or a video chat – might be copied, pasted and distributed in ways that you
didn't intend. Before you post, ask yourself - would I be OK if this
content was shared widely at school or with my future employer?
At the same time, we all make mistakes. If you find yourself wishing you
hadn't said or done something, it's never too late to apologise.
If you ever receive hurtful or abusive messages or posts on your profile
page you have options. Depending on how serious the situation is, you can
ignore it, ask the person to stop unfriend or block person, or tell your
parents, a teacher, a counsellor or another adult you trust. Everyone
deserves to be treated with respect.
Make sure you always REPORT abusive content—whether it's on your profile
page, or someone else's. You can also report inappropriate Pages, Groups,
Events and fake or impostor profiles. (Remember that reporting is
confidential, so no one will know who made the report).
Learn about privacy settings, and review them often
Sexting: What you need to know
More young people have smartphones and use a range of social media such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Snapchat and Twitter the dangers of getting involved in risky behaviour is therefore multiplied.
There is a trend in young people 'sexting' images to each other.
Sexting is 'sending or posting sexually suggestive images, including nude or semi-nude photographs, via mobiles or over the Internet.'
Possessing and distributing any imagery of someone under 18 which is 'indecent' is illegal. This includes sending imagery of themselves if they are under 18.
Indecent images includes not only nude images but images of children in underwear.
Once an image is sent to another person the sender loses control of who else the image is seen by or where it is stored.
There is a potentially devastating long term effects on the young person of losing control of these images as they get passed around the web.
Young people involved in sharing pictures of a sexual nature may be committing a criminal offence. Specifically, crimes involving indecent photographs of a person under 18 years of age fall under
Section 1 of the Protection of Children Act 1978, Section 160 Criminal Justice Act 1988 and Section 62 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009
Under this legislation it is a crime to:
If you have any concerns or require additional information please speak to;
Helen Jones the Safeguarding Officer at the Academy