Online Safety

The school is well aware that the world our students are growing up in is very different to that experienced by their teachers or the parents.

Erik Qualman (US writer and Pulitzer Prize Nominee) summed up the all-consuming online world by commenting that nowadays: “We don’t have a choice on whether we do social media, the question is how well we do it.”

Online and social media presents fantastic opportunities and innovative approaches but they also come with real threats and dangers which it is all too easy to fall prey to.

This means that the school seeks not only to open (or in many ways just extend) the online options out there, but also to ensure that our students keep as safe as possible as they venture into the world of the internet.

Online Safety Mark

The school places a high emphasis on Online Safety and this is reflected in us holding the Online Safety Mark as part of the award-winning 360 Degrees Safe scheme.

Online Safety Curriculum

The real strength of the accreditation is that it has to be regularly updated so that there is no option to think you have Online Safety cracked and can sit back – the online world changes far too quickly for that.

All students receive comprehensive guidance on Online Safety, ranging from curriculum provision in ICT to PSHE sessions, and tutor time guidance to Focus Week projects.

The students are further protected by high-quality firewalls and monitoring by our Network Team. If there are any searches or typed input into our school that elicits concern then it is flagged up to our Online Safety Lead, Steve Neale (our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead), immediately.

Elsewhere, parents receive Online Safety guidance through the school website, our social media platforms, newsletters and stalls and support sessions at parents’ evenings.

Ten Easy Steps to Stay Safe Online

The following easy steps act as a good basis to keep safe online and are taken from the Safety Net Kids website:

  • Don’t post any personal information online – like your address, email address or mobile number
  • Think carefully before posting pictures or videos of yourself. Once you’ve put a picture of yourself online most people can see it and may be able to download it, it’s not just yours anymore
  • Keep your privacy settings as high as possible
  • Never give out your passwords
  • Don’t befriend people you don’t know
  • Don’t meet up with people you’ve met online. Speak to your parent or carer about people suggesting you do
  • Remember that not everyone online is who they say they are
  • Think carefully about what you say before you post something online
  • Respect other people’s views, even if you don’t agree with someone else’s views doesn’t mean you need to be rude
  • If you see something online that makes you feel uncomfortable, unsafe or worried: leave the website, turn off your computer if you want to and tell a trusted adult immediately

What Should You Do If You / Your Child is Being Bullied Online ?

There is always a risk that students and parents wrongly decide not to report their concerns for fear of making things worse. This is a real mistake and does not teach a sensible response for school or adult life.

Equally, students and parents can sometimes think with online bullying that it is outside of school and so the school can do nothing about it. This is another error – we are always here to support you and your child.

We would encourage all students and parents to speak up about any problems they are facing by either:

  • Speaking to your Tutor
  • Speaking to Student Support
  • Speaking to your Head of House
  • Speaking to any member of staff who you feel comfortable with
  • Emailing stopbullying@friaryschool.co.uk

Further Information:

Further information about Online Safety can be accessed via:

For more information about our Online Safety provision, please contact Steve Neale, Deputy Safeguarding Lead, via office@friaryschool.co.uk.