Clued up youngsters from Flintshire today helped launch a pioneering schools project to keep schoolchildren safe online.
The eCadet initiative devised by award-winning internet experts eTreble9, from Hawarden, is the first of its kind in the UK.
Each school across the county will have at least two pupils who are trained as eCadets who will be able to advise fellow students how to protect themselves when browsing the internet, using social media on smart phones and tablets, or playing online games.
Appropriately, the launch at County Hall in Mold was timed to coincide with World Safer Internet Day.
The scheme was the brainchild of Henry and Danielle Platten, who already run a successful company advising about online security for companies and individuals.
Flintshire County Council is the first local authority in the UK to sign up to the eCadet programme which is already attracting interest from across Britain.
Henry explained: “For our work, we realised that it was just as important to show all children how to stay safe online, and not to give out personal information. As our family backgrounds are in education, it seemed natural to start this by rolling it out through schools, and we’re delighted the forward thinking Flintshire School Improvement Service and Healthy Schools Scheme have come on board to make it available to all schools in the county.
“The eCadet scheme links in with the targets for schools set by the schools inspectorate Estyn and Healthy Schools, such as online safety, health and well-being, literacy and numeracy and personal development.”
The eCadets and their teachers get training and support, with booklets to complete and targets to meet. Plus they can start at the age of eight and follow it through to sixth form and beyond.
“We know that employers want recruits who understand the internet and realise its potential – and possible pitfalls – so this is giving the pupils extra skills,” explained Danielle.
“We know that children are sometimes loath to talk to parents or teachers about a problem, because they think it is too trivial or they may get into trouble. But they will talk to their friends or classmates and take their advice – just like adults often turn to friends or neighbours for help on IT problems at home.
“We do support the children so if a fellow pupil comes to them with something that really needs adult intervention, then the eCadets will seek that with the school safeguarding co-ordinator.”
Among those take part in the sessions at Flintshire Council’s County hall in Mold are Ysgol Terrig, Maes Garmon and Argoed Schools.
One of the youngest pupils taking part was eight-year-old Lugh Doyle, from Cornist Park Primary School in Flint, who aims to work in IT one day. Along with fellow pupil Dominic Seton he’s been trialling a pilot eCadet scheme, and they have already helped classmates with online safety.
“Somebody wanted them to send their email address, and we advised them not to, while two girls fell out over emails and we helped them sort it out.” said Lugh.
“I think children find it easier to talk to their friends at school about problems like this, rather than go to their teacher. They think it’s not important enough to tell a teacher,” added Lugh, who said he was planning to also change his own password for one with symbols and numbers.
Dominic said: “I’ve learnt about not giving away too much information online, making sure my picture settings are private and not using my real name as a user name when I am playing games online.
Fellow Cornist Park pupil Hannah Brownhill, nine, enjoyed using the iPads for the training session, as she has one at home. “I always ask my mum or dad before I download an app because it’s easy to do. Also, after today’s training I’ve realised that my password is quite easy to guess, so I’m changing mine as well,” said Hannah.
Teacher Kellie Williams, ICT co-ordinator at Cornist Park School, praised the scheme. She said: “We need to make children more aware how to stay safe online and that there are dangers in that community, but at the same time ensure they can use the internet for learning and for fun. Having another pupil they can ask for help is invaluable.”
Ten-year-old Lois Wilkie, a pupil at Mountain Lane School, Buckley, said: “I have learnt a lot today, especially about passwords – I am going to go home and change mine so it includes symbols and numbers in it.”
Fellow pupil Alfie Jones, 11, added: “I use Instagram a lot and this has made me think about what information I put up. The best thing has been about the passwords – I’m definitely going to change mine.”
Mountain Lane Primary School teacher Rachel Shaw said: “The scheme is pitched just right for the age groups, it’s not too simplified but doesn’t use too much jargon, I’ve got two teenage children and so I know how fast the online world changes.
“The pupils share their knowledge with their classmates, their family and with us as teachers. This is flipping the classroom – teachers are learning as much from the children as they are from us.”
Megan Butcher, 10, and James Daniels, 11, will be taking the eCadet scheme into Buckley’s Southdown Primary School.
“I realise that when I go on things like Twitter I shouldn’t use my real photo for my profile, but my pet instead. And I have to be careful that I keep information private,” said Megan.
X Box fan James said: “It’s easy to trip up and give out information, so I’ll be advising people to make sure they don’t give away too much without realising.”
Southdown Primary School head teacher Diane Chisholm is also going through the training with the children. She said: “I like the children to be involved in activities such as this, and we will be taking it to our school council.
“Pupils do prefer to talk to other children initially when they are in trouble but there is a good support network, so the eCadets know how they can raise more serious matters with an adult, if necessary.”
