Internet safety leaders

Aug 27 2008 Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

PUPILS at Airdrie Academy have led the way in Scotland by completing the new Intermediate 1 course in ‘Internet Safety’.

The ICT course was made available to second year pupils, giving them the chance of gaining an SQA certificate in an extremely relevant subject, at an early stage in their school life.

Pupils researched the on-line course materials in order to build up their knowledge and awareness of some of the problems that the internet can cause modern society.

The award of an Intermediate 1 certificate meant that pupils had to pass an on-line, multiple choice assessment and also compile their own blog based on their research.

The results of this inaugural year have been extremely encouraging with 180 pupils having passed. Pupils received SQA certificates by post shortly after having successfully completed the course.

Due to Airdrie Academy’s support for Internet Safety, and the large numbers of pupils involved, the school was visited by Mr Robert Marren of the Scottish Qualifications Agency who spoke with staff and pupils involved.

The success of the course and, most importantly, of the pupils means that the ICT faculty will be offering Intermediate 1, ‘Internet Safety’ next session, with the aim of having even more pupils receive SQA certificates.