Issue 1085: 23rd May 2025 – Sweyne Park School

HEADLINES

AI

For many years, adults have been telling young people to be careful about what they are posting online for many reasons. However, AI has made this an even more important message.

While technology such as AI brings many benefits, it also brings additional risks. A new report has said that someone only needs 10-20 images to create a realistic likeness of someone else.

The article below from the Irish Independent contains more information about the risks involved in posting or sharing images of children:

Criminals need just 20 images of one child to produce deep fake, cyber experts say | Irish Independent

Smartphones

The question of when to give a child a smartphone is one that causes many parents/carers a lot of thought and worry. While most children of secondary school age already have smartphones, for those of you with younger children, this a decision that you will still have to make.

The article below gives some questions to think about to help parents make an informed decision.

It also provides some thoughts for those whose children already have smartphones to make sure that they are getting the best out of the technology.

3 Things Parents Wish They Had Considered Before Giving Their Teen a Smartphone – Wayne Denner

Pinterest

Pinterest is a platform used by a many pupils and has a wide range of ideas and inspiration for subjects like design and technology and art, as well as pupils’ own hobbies and interests. Because it is a “user-created” platform, there will be some content that is not suitable for everyone.

Internet Matters have produced a guide containing advice and guidance about using Pinterest safely, which is linked below: Pinterest safety settings guide for parents | Internet Matters

Achievements Outside of School

We very much enjoy hearing about all the exciting things our pupils and students do outside of school.

We know that so many of them are involved in clubs and charities and make a fantastic contribution to our community.

If your child has something they would like to share, please do contact us on pupilservices@sweynepark.com, so that we can include a short article, and where possible, accompanying photographs in the Sweyne Park Times and/or on our Facebook page.

This can relate to a sporting success, charity work, a project they have been involved in or an interesting experience they would like to share.

We really do want to celebrate all the fantastic achievements of our pupils and students. Thank you, in advance, for your support.

Coming Soon…

It is hard to believe that when we return we will be into the last half-term of the academic year.

As ever, it promises to a busy but productive few weeks with a number of events planned.

Please do make a note in your diaries:

5^th June Year 8 Awards Evening

10^th June Year 9 Awards Evening

26^th June Induction Evening for September Year 7 Starters

27^th June Induction Day for September Year 7 Starters

30^th June Year 7 Awards Evening

3^rd July Year 11 Prom

8^th July Year 10 Awards and Prefect Presentation Evening

10^th July Year 13 Celebration Event

15^th July Summer Concert

18^th July School will finish at 12.30pm

As always, we will provide further details for each event nearer the time.

Mental Health A

And Finally

Have a lovely half-term break and we will look forward to welcoming our pupils and students back to school at the usual time of 8.35 am on Monday 2^nd June.

What do you do when you're not in school?

We would love to hear about your hobbies, interests and achievements...

If you have any stories and/or photos that you would like to share, please contact us at pupilservices@sweynepark.com

Connextions Survey

Contact details and personal preferences:

As you are aware we keep confidential records on our systems with parents/carers contact details, ie. addresses, phone numbers, emergency contacts and email addresses. If you have recently made any changes could you contact Pupil Services on: pupilservices@sweynepark.com so we can update our systems please.

We also hold information re your preference for use of pupils’ biometric data and school photos both inside and outside of school. If your preferences have changed, could you make us aware of the change by also emailing Pupil Services.

Thank you in advance.

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Benfleet Running Club

We have a thriving Youth section at the club which takes children from 11 to 16 years old. We are an England Athletics affiliated club with all of the appropriate safeguarding procedures and policies in place. You can see some basic details regarding our Youth section at BRC Youths – Benfleet Running Club.