YOUNG people at Harper Green School are helping to "create a better internet together".

The school held an E-Safety Week to coincide with Safer Internet Day the theme of which this year was to create a safer on-line world.

Pupils were sown how they can enjoy the benefits of technology while staying safe.

Sarah Burke, the Farnworth school's social, moral and spiritual co-ordinator, said: "E-Safety means to act safe when communicating electronically.

"Harper Green pupils have been taught to recognise electronic communications can be via mobiles, laptops, tablets, webcams, cameras, via online gaming etc and we have discussed ways to prevent risk.

"I launched E-Safety with pupils via assemblies where I have challenged pupils to recognise key dangers.

"I have sympathy for all teenagers and the technological world they are growing up in; where strangers can be easily accessed and children can easily become victims of inappropriate messages, material and abuse.

"I was shocked this week to hear a statistic on national news which stressed one in seven teenagers had participated in online bullying, but more sadly that many of these had actually got involved over fear that their decision to refrain from commenting may in fact cause them to be the victim of bullying.

"E-Safety is a huge problem of which youngsters can not tackle alone."

Pupils signed up to an E-Safety contract to raise awareness and focus their minds when using technology.

Terms included not disclosing school usernames or passwords to other pupils; to tell someone if they feel unsafe and "I will be polite and show respect when electronically communicating with pupils and staff so not to cause any harm or upset".

Miss Burke explained: "It is important collectively as a school community built of staff, pupils and guardians we prompt pupils to consider morality, responsibility and consequences at school and at home.

"The contract was devised with the hope pupils would take this home, along with our first newsletter and discuss the modern day problems and how to be E-Safe."

The school's first E-Safety newsletter is designed to encourage parents to help keep their child safe in the virtual world — and let them know about the the key terms pupils were being educated on such as flaming, online grooming, and self-generated indecent images while highlighting three key areas — content contact and conduct.

The week was incorporated in the curriculum with a logo designing competition, quiz, posters highlighting emotional stress on the body in science, discussions in Learning for Life lessons and translating E-Safety words into Spanish.

Highlights included pupils staging a short drama entitled ‘Harper on the Green’ which highlights how the action of others on social media and nasty comments can affect teenagers and the people around them.

Miss Burke said: "I intended for the drama to be captivating and memorable for pupils but also to test their learnt knowledge associated with recognising dangers, trust issues and appropriate actions.

"The drama ends on a cliff hanger prompting pupils to debate ‘What happened next?’."

Olivia Carter, aged 13, said: "It has been an amazing week teaching young people about using the internet safely, such as be careful what you say, how what you can post can affect you when you look for a job — and especially that if you are worried about things online then to tell someone and not keep it to yourself."

Megan Twigg, aged 12, added: "I played the victim in the play, and the week, and being in the play, made me realise that people on line are not always who they say they are.

"As you do not see them face-to-face who cannot be sure who they are.

"Weeks like this are really important to help young people stay safe online."

Thomas Aldred. aged 12, added: "There have been great advances in technology, which is a good thing but you have to be aware as well about privacy settings, and that you know people who are your friends, rather than having 1,000 'friends' most of whom you don't know."