Staying Safe Online @ Headcorn School
For Parents...
Welcome to Headcorn School, where we prioritize the safety of our students in the ever-expanding online world. With the prevalence of the internet and mobile technology, we recognize the importance of equipping our pupils with the necessary knowledge and skills to navigate the digital landscape securely.
To ensure online safety, we have implemented various initiatives throughout our school community:
Comprehensive Curriculum: Our Computing curriculum incorporates regular age-appropriate online safety sessions. These sessions empower our pupils with the awareness and understanding to identify and protect themselves from potentially harmful content on the internet.
Engaging Assemblies: In addition to the curriculum-based sessions, we conduct school assemblies dedicated to online safety. These gatherings provide valuable opportunities to address pertinent digital concerns and reinforce safe online practices.
Empowered Staff: Our dedicated staff members receive regular training on online safety during professional development meetings. This ongoing education enables our teachers to stay up-to-date with the latest trends, challenges, and best practices, allowing them to effectively guide and support our students in their online endeavours.
Parent Partnership: We understand that online safety is a collaborative effort between school and home. Therefore, we communicate regularly through our weekly newsletter throughout the academic year. This forum serves as an informative platform where we share valuable insights, resources, and strategies to foster a safe online environment for our students.
Our Focus Areas:
Content Awareness: We empower our students to recognize that the internet houses both valuable resources and potential dangers. By equipping them with the necessary tools, we enable them to protect themselves against harmful content and make informed choices while exploring the digital world.
Contact Awareness: While the internet and mobile devices provide effective means of communication, we emphasize to our pupils the importance of understanding that contact with unknown individuals can pose risks. We guide them to exercise caution and use appropriate channels to interact with friends and family.
Responsible Conduct: We emphasize that online behaviour holds the same weight as real-world conduct. Our students understand that the internet does not provide a shield for inappropriate behaviour, and they are encouraged to treat others with respect and kindness, both online and offline.
Critical Commercialism: We educate our students about the influence of advertising and marketing schemes online. By fostering critical thinking skills, we help them navigate through promotional content and make informed decisions, ensuring their online experiences are enjoyable and free from unintended financial consequences.
At Headcorn School, we are committed to fostering a safe and supportive digital environment for our students. Through collaborative efforts among our dedicated staff, engaged parents, and responsible pupils, we strive to instil lifelong skills that enable our students to thrive in the digital age while staying safe and responsible online.
For Pupils...
S - Stay Safe Online
Your online safety is a top priority! Protect your personal information, like your home address, email, phone number, and passwords. Always keep them private.
M - Mindful Meetings
Meeting someone you've only talked to online can be risky. Get your parents' or guardians' permission and ensure they're present if you decide to meet. Remember, online friends are still strangers, no matter how long you've chatted with them.
A - Avoid the Unknown
Don't accept emails, instant messages, or open files, pictures, or texts from people you don't know or trust. They might contain viruses or unpleasant messages.
R - Reliable Sources
People online can pretend to be someone they're not, and not everything on the internet is true. Always double-check information from reliable sources like websites, books, or trusted individuals. If you enjoy chatting online, stick to your real-world friends and family.
T - Talk It Out
Your voice matters! If something or someone online makes you feel uncomfortable or worried, or if you or someone you know is experiencing online bullying, don't hesitate to talk to your parents, guardians, or another trusted adult.
Remember, online safety is crucial, and by staying S.M.A.R.T, you can enjoy a safer digital experience.
Information for Pupils...
The following websites and documents are very useful to help you find out more information on being e-safe and how to be a stand up digital citizen. (Click links to visit...)
Information for Parents...
The following links and documents are useful for parents and carers. They deal with topics such as how to keep your child e-safe and how to talk as a family about internet safety.
Designated Safeguarding Leads
At Headcorn School our Designated Safeguarding Leaders or DSLs are...
| Miss Sarah Symonds | Head Teacher |
| Mr Lee Drury | Deputy Head Teacher |
| Mrs Rebecca Daniel | SENCo |
| Mr Keith Benfield | FLO |
Our pupils describe safeguarding as: SAFE = to keep out of harm or danger GUARD = to protect others