February 2012

The know zone

  • Fault lines
    As keen readers of this column know, ‘vicarious liability’ is the legal doctrine that makes employers answerable for the actions of an employee in the course of his or her employment. But how does this translate to extra-curricular school activities? Richard Bird explains. More
  • Stay in touch?
    Teacher contact ratio is a topic of perennial importance but attempting to work out what the ideal figure should be is always a frustrating business, says Sam Ellis More
  • Lead vocals
    Quotes from Confucius, Douglas Adams and Aristotle More
  • Action man
    Until this spring, Graeme Hornsby is assistant principal (business management) at Lutterworth College, Leicestershire, a school with a £10m budget, 400 staff and 2,000 pupils where he has worked since 1989. A keen triathlete, he regularly undertakes a 600-mile round trip to see his beloved Celtic FC play. More
  • E-safety first...
    Online safety is in the spotlight throughout the world in February. More
  • Adding value
    A simple answer to saving money More
  • A level playing field
    UCAS has proposed allowing students to apply to university after they receive their A level results, even though it means moving the A level teaching period and shortening the exam window. Is it the best way to improve the admissions system? What are the implications? Members share their views. More
  • Leaders' surgery
    Healthy outlook provides food for thought & Early retirement calculations More
  • Old challenges for a new year...
    While the ongoing pension negotiations were high on the agenda of last Council, on 8-9 December, intelligent accountability was also a hot topic, with discussions in various committees on Ofsted, local authorities and the role of governors. More
  • Failing to plan...?
    The National Curriculum Review’s expert panel report, published in December, concurred with ASCL’s view that it is pointless to change the curriculum until we’ve agreed what purpose the curriculum is expected to serve. This debate has not happened, says Brian Lightman. More
  • Podium panic!
    Keeping the guest speaker sober and on-message while peppering your own presentation with song titles and wondering what some of the gongs are actually for – all concerns as prize-giving ceremonies loom large… More
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Online safety is in the spotlight throughout the world in February.

E-safety first...

What is the UK Safer Internet Centre?

It’s an organisation offering all the latest advice, practical hints and tips, news and events about how to use the internet and associated new technologies safely and responsibly.

Who is involved?

The centre is part-funded by the European Commission and run by charity Childnet International, the South West Grid for Learning and the Internet Watch Foundation.

What is it doing for Safer Internet Day on February 7?

It is coordinating activities and resources from around 70 different bodies and groups. These include taking a group of young people to a special reception in Portcullis House at Westminster to be hosted by Culture Minister Ed Vaizey. It is also broadcasting a 12-hour internet radio programme on the Safer Internet Day theme, ‘Connecting generations’. Further details can be found at www.saferinternet.org.uk/safer-internet-day/safer-internet-day-radio-programme and all the interviews from last year’s show can be found on iTunes at: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/safer-internetday-live-2011/id426399672

What other secondary resources are available?

Further reflecting the connecting generations theme, the centre is promoting resources such as a series of classroom activities including discussion topics, debating and role-play from Childnet. One activity involves students writing a one-minute speech to inspire non-internet users to go online. See www.saferinternet.org.uk/safer-internet-day/download-schools-pack/

What else has the centre been up to?

In collaboration with the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) secretariat, the centre has just completed a national survey on e-safety in local safeguarding children boards (LSCBs) across England.

Overall, the responses revealed that e-safety groups feel “insufficiently supported” since the abolition of education technology agency Becta in 2011 and a third are experiencing falling attendances. There is a further issue in that the work of nearly two-thirds of boards is dependent on an enthusiastic individual, adds David Wright of the South West Grid for Learning.

“It is clearly a concern for the long-term sustainability of this work. Since the abolition of Becta, there have been a number of high-profile cases involving the safeguarding of children online. This (e-safety) work is vital to the safety of children, especially given that they continue to immerse themselves in their digital worlds.”

Any other business?

The UK Safer Internet Centre has a monthly newsletter celebrating national online safety projects and those from other European awareness centres. To subscribe to the mailing list go to http://bit.ly/jN3ilC

Find out more:

UK Safer Internet Centre: www.saferinternet.org.uk

E-safety first

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