09 March 2022

Banchory Primary commended for its digital approach to wellbeing

Banchory Primary School has become the first school in Aberdeenshire and one of the first nationally to be awarded Digital Wellbeing Award from Digital Awards Schools Scotland.

The award recognises the work previously completed on cyber resilience and internet safety in schools and the initial Digital Schools Award it has been revised to incorporate a greater focus on digital wellbeing.

The Digital Wellbeing Award, which builds on the CR-IS (Cyber Resilience and Internet safety) Badge, launched by the Digital Schools Award scheme in 2019, aims to provide young people with the skills and confidence required to navigate the digital world.

Digital wellbeing is the impact of using digital technology on children and young people’s social and emotional wellbeing. Cyber resilience is a key ambition of the Scottish Government’s Strategic Framework for a Cyber Resilient Scotland, published in February 2021.

The new framework acknowledges the increasing amount of time that children spend online and the risks they face as a result.

To achieve the new badge schools will be required to show that they have embedded cyber resilience and internet safety into their planning and across all subjects, while also implementing a positive and supportive digital wellbeing ethos.

Teachers include elements of cyber resilience and internet safety in their lessons while student leaders will support and encourage digital wellbeing among their peers.  The school’s TechWizards have worked tirelessly to continue the digital work and look forward to continuing the work with the community.

The initiative is developed in conjunction with Education Scotland and supported by industry partners HP and AMD in Scotland.

Banchory Primary School Head Teacher Jackie Fernandez said: “I am delighted that Banchory Primary School has now received it’s third digital award. I would like to express my admiration and gratitude to the TechWizards, staff and of course, our fantastic Principal Teacher, Gillian Jones.

“This award could not be timelier as Cyber Scotland Week took place earlier this month. Online safety and wellbeing are so important. We hope the lessons our pupils are learning will make a big difference later in life.”

For more information, please visit www.digitalschoolsawards.com.