ALMOST a quarter of youngsters in Flintshire secondary schools have been the victim of cyber bullying, according to a new report.

Backbench councillors in the county are due to meet next week to discuss the impact of bullying on social media platforms.

It follows a poll being carried out of 6,585 youngsters from the county’s 11 high schools.

It showed that 23 per cent reported they had been cyber bullied in the months preceding the survey, which is above the national average.

Meanwhile, 12 per cent said they had sent a sexually explicit image of themselves to someone else, which was again higher than normal.

Since the questionnaire was carried out, Flintshire Council has been working to help keep children safe online and has published details on the steps being taken.

In a report Claire Homard, chief officer for education and youth, warned it could lead to pupils being groomed or exposed to explicit material if they did not receive the right guidance.

She said: “If precautions are not taken, these technologies can expose pupils to hostile individuals, including sexual predators, who can form relationships with pupils, sometimes using false identities or posing as a child.

“The technologies can expose pupils to pornography and pornographers, to materials extolling violence, drugs or prejudice hatred.

“The technologies can also enable bullying.

“This risk is mitigated against by schools involving pupils in a development programme of training and support suitable for their age through a range of different opportunities and also by providing information and support for parents.”

The poll, which more than 80 per cent of pupils took part, was conducted at the end of 2017, but the full results were not made public until last month.

The authority is currently looking to provide reassurance that children in Flintshire’s schools are receiving the appropriate support in using the internet and social media.

The data from the report has led to a county-wide action plan being implemented, which is being overseen by the Flintshire Health and Wellbeing Steering Group, and includes advice from the UK’s Chief Medical Officer.

Ms Homard said while most pupils were well accustomed to digital technology, it was important to monitor how long they spend online.

She added: “The internet and social media can be a force for good in our society and in 2019, most children and young people in the UK have grown up with internet-enabled technology in their home or school with early access to smartphones and similar devices.

“At the same time, parents and carers, educational and health professionals, academics and politicians have expressed concern that the amount of time children and young people spend engaged in screen-based activities, which may be detrimental to their physical and mental health and wellbeing.

“From summer term 2019, the education and youth portfolio will be requesting that all schools complete a safeguarding self-evaluation on an annual basis and submit to the local authority for collation and monitoring.

“Schools must be able to demonstrate their commitment to eSafety; e.g. if staff have received some awareness training outlining what the current risks are and what resources are available to help them keep pupils and themselves safe online.”

She said schools’ internet use policies would also be monitored as part of the safeguarding process.

The report will be considered by members of Flintshire’s education scrutiny committee on Monday (DEL 20 MAY 2019).