We are very lucky to have access to range of different technology including:

• tablets
• laptops
• computers
• smart phones
• Xbox
• PS4

It is really important that we use this technology in a safe way.  

At our school, we have all discussed and signed  an Acceptable Use Policy to show that we agree to use the internet and technology safely. 

You can see these agreements below.

There are lots of things you can do to keep yourself safe online.

• Think before you post
  Don’t upload or share anything you wouldn’t want your parents, carers or teachers seeing. Once you post something, you lose control of it, especially if someone else screenshots or shares it.

• Don’t share personal details
  Keep things like your address, phone number, full name, school and date of birth private, and check what people can see in your privacy settings. Remember that people can use small clues like a school logo in a photo to find out a lot about you.

• Watch out for phishing and scams
  Phishing is when someone tries to trick you into giving them information, like your password. Someone might also try to trick you by saying they can make you famous or that they’re from a talent agency. Never click links from emails or messages that ask you to log in or share your details, even if you think they might be genuine. If you’re asked to log into a website, go to the app or site directly instead.

• Think about who you’re talking to
  There are lots of ways that people try to trick you into trusting them online. Even if you like and trust someone you’ve met online, never share personal information with them like your address, full name, or where you go to school. 

• Keep your device secure
  Make sure that you’re keeping your information and device secure.

• Never give out your password
  You should never give out your password or log-in information. Make sure you pick strong, easy to remember passwords.

• Cover your webcam
  Some viruses will let someone access your webcam without you knowing, so make sure you cover your webcam whenever you’re not using it.

How To Spot Fake News

The news you see online or on social media isn’t always going to be accurate. And it can be hard to tell what’s real and what’s fake.

Some websites will report fake news or things that aren’t completely true. They might do it because they want to scare you or make you do something. Or because they make money from people going to their site.

Fake news can look real, but there are ways to help you spot it.

• Check the source
  Check the name of the website and its web address to see if it looks real. Some sites will try to look like other websites so you think they’re genuine.

• Look for evidence
  Find out whether it’s being reported on other sites that you know and trust. If it’s only being reported on websites you’ve never heard of then it might not be true.

• Don’t decide straight away
  Sometimes headlines or stories are designed to scare or interest you. Read what’s in the article carefully, ask yourself whether it seems true and why they’re saying it.

• Ask someone you trust
  Try asking an adult you trust to see what they think. If you’re worried about something you’ve seen online, talk to a trusted adult