Mercer's Wood Academy

Today’s pupils are growing up in an increasingly complex world, living their lives seamlessly on and offline. This presents many positive and exciting opportunities, but also challenges and risks.

From September 2020, Relationships Education will be compulsory for all primary aged pupils, Health Education will be compulsory in all state-funded schools in England.

Through these new subjects, our pupils will be taught about online safety and harms. This will include being taught what positive, healthy and respectful online relationships look like, the effects of their online actions on others and knowing how to recognise and display respectful behaviour online.

Our teaching staff will address online safety and appropriate behaviour in an age appropriate way that is relevant to their pupils’ lives. This will be complemented by visitors delivering Safer Internet Workshops, these discuss the principles of online safety at all key stages, with progression in the content to reflect the different and escalating risks that pupils face. This includes how to use technology safely, responsibly, respectfully and securely, and where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet or other online technologies.

There are also other curriculum subjects which include content relevant to teaching pupils how to use the internet safely, media literacy - distinguishing fact from opinion as well as exploring freedom of speech and the role and responsibility of the media in informing and shaping public opinion. It also supports teaching about the concept of democracy, freedom, rights, and responsibilities.