Supporting children’s safety online

11 December 2025 4:00pm–5:30pm

Taking place online via Microsoft Teams

The session is aimed at school support staff and will provide an overview of the latest risks and challenges facing children and young people online and when using AI tools. It will showcase some of the latest research and developments and consider the impact that the online safety act is having. The session will focus on the role that schools have in keeping children safe online and look at the statutory requirements that must be followed. Should mobiles be banned? Should the age to access social media be increased? How do we protect ourselves online and ensure that we have a positive online reputation? And what about AI?! All these questions and more will be discussed.

This session is delivered by Karl Hopwood, an independent online safety expert. He is a member of UKCIS (UK Council for Internet Safety) and sits on the UKCIS evidence group, education working group and the early warning group as well as on the advisory board for the UK Safer Internet Centre. He was part of an expert steering group with TikTok looking at harmful and dangerous online challenges and regularly contributes to content for Internet Matters, recently delivering their online safety training for those working with children in care commissioned by Ofcom.

Karl has worked for a number of key players in the UK and abroad including CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre), BECTA (British Educational and Communications Technology Agency), the European Commission, the UN, and several Local Authorities within the UK and in Europe.

As an ex primary headteacher, he continues to work closely in schools across Europe with children, young people, parents, teachers, and governors to develop safer online behaviours and the promotion of digital literacy. Karl has been employed for the last 19 years as an in-house consultant for INSAFE which is the coordinating node of the EU Better Internet for Kids programme where he is responsible for the coordination of safer internet helplines and awareness centres across Europe.

Supporting children's safety online Dec 2025

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