At Park Road Academy, we use our social media platforms, including Instagram, to give parents, carers and the wider school community a wonderful insight into life at our school. From celebrating children's achievements and showcasing exciting learning opportunities to sharing special events and everyday moments, our social media helps bring the Park Road Academy experience to life.

Safeguarding and protecting children's privacy remain our priority. All photographs and video recordings are taken using a Park Road Academy device or a device that has been expressly authorised for use by the Headteacher. Only children whose parents or carers have provided consent will feature on our social media platforms.

Parents and carers have the right to withdraw their consent at any time. To ensure there is a clear and consistent process, we ask that parents wishing to withdraw consent email the school office to confirm their request in writing and also notify their child's class teacher via Tapestry. This ensures that both the school office and classroom staff are aware of the change and can take the necessary steps to respect the family's wishes.

Miss Hart Jr is our Social Media Content lead and she ensures that all consents are gained and regularly checks that the permissions and privacy settings are at their highest on our social media account. Miss Hart Jr will create most of the content that you see on our social media. Once created this content is deleted within 7 days from the device it was created from. 

To follow us on Instagram you can find us at: @parkroadacademy

Teaching Social Media Awareness

At Park Road Academy, we recognise that social media and digital technology are an increasingly important part of children's lives. We are committed to helping our pupils develop the knowledge, confidence and skills to navigate the online world safely, responsibly and respectfully. Online safety is not taught as a one-off lesson; it is embedded throughout our curriculum, reinforced through regular discussions and revisited as children grow and develop. Our approach is always child-friendly, age-appropriate and sensitive to children's experiences, helping pupils understand both the opportunities and potential risks of being online.

Through our Kapow Primary Computing curriculum, children develop their understanding of online safety progressively from Year 1 to Year 6. Learning includes using the internet safely, protecting personal information, recognising online risks, understanding digital footprints, being kind online, managing screen time, recognising cyberbullying and making responsible decisions about posting and sharing content. Take a closer look at our Computing Curriculum here: Computing Curriculum

This learning is reinforced through our Jigsaw PSHE curriculum, particularly within the Relationships, Healthy Me and Celebrating Difference themes, where children explore healthy friendships, respectful online communication, bullying, social media, privacy, digital wellbeing and knowing when and how to seek help. Take a closer look at our curriculum here: PHSE Curriculum

We also actively raise the profile of online safety across the whole school community. Each year, we participate in Safer Internet Day and our annual E-Safety Week, providing opportunities for children to explore important online safety messages through engaging activities, discussions and assemblies. Through our Picture News assemblies, we regularly explore current issues relating to social media, online behaviour and staying safe in the digital world. These assemblies help children make meaningful connections between their learning and real-life situations, encouraging them to think critically, consider different perspectives and understand the importance of making positive choices online.

Our next Safer Internet Day is 07 February 2027 - find ut more here: Safer Internet Day 2027

Importantly, we recognise the value of teaching in the moment. When concerns, questions or experiences are raised by children, parents or carers, our teachers respond sensitively and use these opportunities to reinforce important online safety messages. We do not wait for the next planned Computing or PSHE lesson to address an issue. Instead, we respond proactively, ensuring that children receive timely guidance and reassurance. All discussions and teaching materials are carefully adapted to children's ages and stages of development, ensuring that pupils are informed and empowered without being unnecessarily exposed to inappropriate or worrying content.

Our aim is to equip every child with the skills to make safe choices, recognise when something is not right, understand the importance of kindness and respect online, and feel confident speaking to a trusted adult if they ever feel worried or uncomfortable. At Park Road Academy, online safety is everyone's responsibility, and we believe that working together with parents and carers is essential in helping children become safe, confident and responsible digital citizens.