Thornhill Community Academy promoting campaign for a safer internet

This coincides with the UK Safer Internet Centre, who are inviting everyone to play their part in making the internet a better place.

During the current climate where everyone is using online technology more than ever, it is vitally important that everyone knows how to use it safely in order to keep themselves safe and secure from cybercrime, fake news and abuse.

In order to promote the campaign, the school have put posts on their social media channels directing parents to the UK Safer Internet Centre website from where they can find valuable resources and information for themselves and their children.

The site can be visited at: https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/safer-internet-day/2021.

During their online SMSCD lessons, staff have made students aware of issues around the reliability of information that can be found on the web. These have included ways to identify credible information and the use of reliable and accurate sources.

Headteacher, Matthew Burton, said, “The internet is a huge part of people’s lives nowadays, and even more so in the middle of a lockdown when students and staff are working remotely and are spending more time online than ever before.

“In the era of ‘fake news’, it’s so important that it’s a safe and trustworthy environment for everyone – children and adults – where they can learn, interact with others and benefit from the many brilliant things it can offer. At TCA, we’re supporting Safer Internet Day throughout this week because it’s important that our students understand how to be safe online and how to separate truth from fiction on their way to becoming responsible online citizens.”

At the Academy, staff round off each week with a special assembly for all students on a Friday afternoon. As they have been focusing on promoting a Safer Internet Day their assembly this week will include an informative presentation on the quality of sources found on the world wide web and students will be challenged with a variety of examples testing their ability to determine if these are trustworthy or not.