Ballfield Lane

Ballfield Lane
Darton
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
S75 5EF
Tel: 01226 382568
Fax: 01226 382350
Email: mail@dartoncollege.co.uk
Web: www.dartoncollege.co.uk
Principal
Kate Davies BSc, MEd.

JW/AD
July 2015
Dear Parent/Carer
We are writing to you again due to the recent media coverage and on-going concerns about the use of
social network sites and the detrimental effects they are having on our learners, your children.
Our concerns and the media coverage has been regarding the website/app called ooVoo. This enables
multiple people to chat, video call and share pictures all at the same time. There have been a number
of leaners who have reported to us that they have been contacted by unknown people via this site. It
also appears that the sites security settings are unreliable, as contact is still possible even if an attempt
has been made to block these unknown users.
When young people are in the privacy of their own homes, behind a computer screen they can, and do
behave very differently to how they would when face to face with people; they say things they normally
would not and use language that they know you, their parents/carers, would not condone. More
worryingly they share images and videos that are completely inappropriate for sharing with other
people. In addition, children are falling out in school as a direct result of the use of social network sites
during evenings and weekends.
We urge you to take a real interest in your childs use of these sites, should you allow your child to use
them. If they cannot be used sensibly and are causing prolonged upset in school then we will have no
option but to request that the young people, who do misuse them, close their accounts and know we
can depend on your support for this. We would like to request that you monitor your childs social
network activity very closely to minimise further upset or disruption in school.
The number of situations we are dealing with as a result of the social networking sites are increasing at
a concerning rate and we would like to remind you that inappropriate use of social network sites are in
breach of the schools anti-bullying policy, which fully explains the nature of cyber bullying.
Inappropriate activity has also now resulted in arrests for certain people as seen in the press.
Thank you in anticipation of your support with this matter. We really need to be as proactive as
possible and work together on this matter to protect our learners and continue to ensure their safety.
Yours sincerely

Mr J Woodhouse
Assistant Principal - Behaviour & Safeguarding

Registered Charity no. 1062490