To support World Mental Health Awareness Day, Harrodian took part in Hello Yellow and, on Thursday 9th October, held online safety talks for pupils and parents, organised by Mr Guy Holdler and the PSHRE team.
Alongside our celebration and bright yellow outfits, this week has also highlighted another vital aspect of young people’s mental health — staying safe online.
To view a gallery of Hello Yellow pics
Head of PSHRE Mr Guy Holder organised a visit from the Breck Foundation, who delivered sessions on online safety and the dangers of grooming to Upper Prep and the entire Senior School, including Sixth Form. The presentations, delivered by Kerry Rusk, were powerful, engaging and carefully tailored to each age group. Pupils listened attentively, asked thoughtful questions, and responded with maturity to what was at times a hard-hitting story.
In the evening, 55 parents attended an online talk organised by Mr Guy Holder, Head of PSHRE, which provided practical advice and support on recognising and preventing grooming. The presentation was extremely informative and sparked important discussions at home and in school about online safety and wellbeing.
A recording of the parent session is available to view for two weeks, along with a parent resource guide from the Breck Foundation containing useful information and links to organisations that can offer support.
To watch the recording (use passcode: ac69N6!D) and
To download the Breck Foundation - Parent Information Pack
Although the Breck Foundation does not directly campaign on smartphone use, the presentation highlighted that Snapchat is the most common app used in grooming cases. This serves as another reminder for parents to consider delaying smartphone and social media use and to ensure that online activity is carefully monitored.
More information on this topic from Mr Holder and Mr Lydon can be found on the school website: Smartphone Guidance.
Both the Breck Foundation visit and our Hello Yellow activities remind us how important it is to care for the mental health and safety of our young people — online and offline.
Thank you to everyone who took part in yellow mufti, wrote messages on our gratitude board, bought popcorn, raised money for Young Minds charity and helped make today a meaningful occasion.