‘Be Internet Citizens’: empowering young minds at Beal

On Friday 10th October 2025, Beal High School proudly hosted an exciting event that brought together students, teachers and digital experts for a morning of inspiration and learning. The ‘Be Internet Citizens’ workshop, delivered in partnership with ParentZone, YouTube, and our local MP Wes Streeting, aimed to equip secondary school students with the tools to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly, tackling the spread of misinformation and disinformation online.

A morning of impact and engagement

60 students from years 9, 10 and 11 gathered in the new Maths school block to take part in interactive sessions focused on spotting misinformation, understanding online influence, and building positive digital communities. The energy in the ‘Hawkins’ room was electric as students engaged with trainers, asked insightful questions, and collaborated on activities designed to sharpen their critical thinking and media literacy. Local MP Wes Streeting then spoke to the students about how misinformation online can be a threat to our local and national democracy, and the importance of checking sources and establishing objective truth.

Capturing the moment

The event was not only educational but also a celebration of youth voice and leadership. Several students were photographed alongside the presenting team, and parts of the workshop were filmed to showcase the enthusiasm and engagement of Beal’s young digital citizens. These moments will be shared by ParentZone and YouTube to highlight the importance of empowering young people in today’s online landscape. Some students also delivered presentations capturing what they have learned, from powerful speeches to poetry and illustration.

A proud milestone for Beal

Mr MacLeod, Head of School – KS3, expressed his pride in the students’ participation:

“It was fantastic to see our students so engaged in discussions about digital responsibility. Events like this are vital in preparing them to be thoughtful, informed citizens in an increasingly complex online world.”

Next up for the students involved is to lead a series of whole school assemblies to raise awareness of safety online so all students at the school benefit from the visit. Well done to all of the year 9, 10 and 11students involved and thanks to staff too for supporting the event.