The Internet can be a fantastic place for children providing them with exciting opportunities. At Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls, we take great care in ensuring the safety of our students in both the online and offline environments. We aim to support students in living their best life online by making them aware of both the life-enhancing aspects of the online world and the potential safety risks associated with the use of IT and mobile technologies. We help students to develop the online critical thinking skills to navigate the digital world. This includes knowing how to report incidents and how to abide by the school’s e-safety and security policy.

By taking the positives of going online, keeping the conversation broad and valuing your child’s opinion you can show you understand and respect that young people use the Internet differently. This positive approach can underpin an open discussion, helping you to know what your child is enjoying online and so be able to also discuss the possible dangers they could face. So helping them to assess their safety online, just as they would in the offline environment.

At Sutton Girls there is a zero-tolerance of bullying. We work with staff, students and parents/carers to create a school community which values the use of new technologies in enhancing learning, quality of life, encourages responsible use of IT, and follows agreed policies to minimise potential e-safety risks.

We discuss, monitor and review our e-safety and security policy on a regular basis, linking it with other relevant policies such as Safeguarding and Child Protection/Behaviour for learning. We support staff in the use of IT as a key tool for enhancing learning and in the embedding of engaging with the online world safely across the whole school curriculum.

Below are some useful links to help you, as parents/carers, to understand the apps, sites and games your child may be enjoying in the online world. The Childnet link also offers valuable advice on how to start a conversation supporting your child online and making a family agreement.