Important Notice: Social Media and Messaging

Dear Parents,                                                                                                 

This note serves as a reminder that children of primary school age are not permitted to use social media platforms, including WhatsApp – access is against the terms and conditions with good reason. If your child experiences harm due to social media misuse, parents must acknowledge their contribution to that harm through them being complicit in its use.

We have observed that many, if not most, conflicts/anxieties/peer pressures among pupils are either initiated or exacerbated by messages exchanged on WhatsApp and other social media platforms outside of school hours.

There is now an overwhelming body of research evidencing the damaging impact that the use of social media/mobile phone use can have on childhood development, mental well-being, and the formation of healthy friendships.

According to a recent poll by Parentkind (March 2024), 83% of parents in the UK believe that smartphones are harmful to young people, yet 91% allow their child to own one (20% under the age of 4). It is therefore concerning that so many parents continue to allow access to something they acknowledge is known to be damaging to their child's health rather than act to prevent it.

It is vital to understand that control over access to social media and messaging platforms must reside with adults, not the child. Children of primary school age simply do not possess the cognitive maturity or life experience to effectively assess the complex risks associated with online interactions, cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, or the long-term impact on their mental health and development. As parents, you hold the crucial responsibility for safeguarding your child in the digital world.

While the school is not in a position to dictate how you manage your child's access to social media or messaging services at home, we strongly advise you to limit or block their access to these platforms and consider delaying smartphone ownership. We believe this is crucial for their well-being and to foster a more positive and harmonious school environment.

We will continue to support our pupils in resolving conflicts. However, please be aware that we will view incidents unfavourably when a parent's permission for a child to use messaging platforms is clearly a contributing factor to the issue.

Our advice is and will always be to deny access to any platform that's damaging to your child’s well-being. Parents and not the child are responsible.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.