Queen Elizabeth II High School in Peel is hosting a presentation later this month to give parents advice on how they can help their children stay safe online. The presentation – on November 18 from 6.30pm to 8pm in the main hall – is being organised by the school and supported by Isle of Man Constabulary and Manx Telecom. Parents will be given advice on the dangers children can face when using the internet, and in particular the risks posed by using social networks and chatrooms. There will also be a presentation which demonstrates some of the danger signs parents should look out for if their children use social networks. 

DC Ian Harrison from Isle of Man Constabulary’s Public Protection Unit will assist with the presentation, with PC Mark Robinson from the Western Neighbourhood Policing Team also present to answer any locally based questions.

Manx Telecom experts will give advice on how Live Parental Controls features on the latest Netgear routers can be used to tightly control access to the internet and protect families from unsavoury content and phishing scams.

Jo White, Assistant Head at QEII, said:

“We will also have presentation by Julie Wilsdon, advisory teacher from the Department of Education and Children’s ICT department. Julie has completed the CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) ambassador training. We will be looking at the dangers of the cyber world and how parents can help to keep their children safer on line. We will also look at the impact that cyber bullying can have on young people in school which will tie-in with Anti Bullying Week (November 18-22) and some of the work QEII will be doing with students throughout that week in school. In addition to looking at the dangers of the internet we will also promote how it can be used positively.

Parents from other schools are welcome to attend. Voirrey Barron, Marketing Communications Manager at Manx Telecom, said:

“Internet security can be a daunting proposition for all parents. However, by using the tools available and correctly supervising internet access they can do a great deal to protect their children. We already provide a great deal of information online about internet safety – and our Customer Service and Tech Bench staff regularly give advice to customers on how to set up Live Parental Controls. We have also given internet safety presentations to primary school pupils at the annual Crucial Crew week for several years, so in many ways this latest school presentation is an extension of our work in this area and we welcome the opportunity to support this important initiative.”

Manx Telecom also supported a similar internet safety presentation held at Ballakermeen High School in October which was organised by PC Michael Griffiths from Isle of Man Constabulary. Advice from Manx Telecom on internet safety can be found at www.manxtelecom.com/internetsafety