PUPILS at a Barry primary school demonstrated how to stay safe and be responsible when using the internet during a special event to mark Safer Internet Day.

Pupils from All Saints CIW Primary School, Barry, today welcomed older pupils from Sandfields Comprehensive school, Port Talbot, to join them, staff, Welsh Government deputy minister for technology, Julie James and Vale Council children’s services cabinet member, Cllr Chris Elmore to help promote safer and more responsible use of online technology, particularly among children and young people.

Children from the schools appear in a new film called #Up2Us that inspires young people to create kinder online communities and tackle cyberbullying.

The UK Safer Internet Centre produced film was launched at events across the UK.

All Saints CIW school head teacher, Clare Lewis, said the school was proud to host the launch of Safer Internet Day for Wales.

She said: “We are very aware of the role that information communication technology plays in building the future of our pupils. It is imperative that our learners are, and remain, safe when using the internet and are equipped with the skills to enable them to become better and responsible digital citizens of the online community. We fully support the Safer Internet Day message that ‘ultimately, a better internet is up to us’.”

Ken Corish, South West Grid for Learning, gave an introduction to UK Safer Internet Centre and Safer Internet Day and answered questions from pupils following the launch of the video in support of Safer Internet Day, 2015.

Welsh Government, deputy minister for technology, Julie James, said: “As part of our support for Safer Internet Day we have organised e-safety awareness raising activities in schools across Wales. We have also worked with the UK Safer Internet Centre to produce bilingual school packs to support schools in their ongoing work in this important area.

“These activities are part of the Welsh Government’s ongoing commitment to online safety for children and young people and the e-Safety zone on our Hwb platform provides advice and guidance not only for our young people but also for their teachers and parents

“In 2008, Wales was the first UK country to introduce the teaching of safe and responsible use of the internet in both the primary and secondary school curriculum.”

The Welsh Government is an official supporter of Safer Internet Day.

For information about Safer Internet Day, visit http://www.saferinternet.org.uk