In Sutton, the name Steve Welding has long been synonymous with e-safety expertise and experience. Known for his quick wit and even quicker recall of facts and statistics, Steve is a captivating storyteller and trainer – and we aren’t the only ones who think so.
Wallington County Grammar School recently asked Steve to deliver an assembly to their Year 9 pupils on online safety. Cue a collective eye roll at having to sit through ‘another assembly.’ Until Steve started speaking, that is. Suddenly, the eye rolls turned into attention and fascination:
“You could hear a pin drop,” said one member of staff.
Not only did Steve manage to engage these young people; he connected with them. So much so that some pupils felt comfortable and confident enough to disclose aspects of their online behaviour to staff. Despite knowing there could be consequences, Steve had spoken to their moral compass and they chose to do the right thing.
Steve’s approach encouraged pupils to reflect and act responsibly.
If you are interested in online safety training for pupils, parents or staff, please contact stephen.welding@cognus.org.uk