Next big boy band to visit Wood Green School with cyber bullying message

In addition to performing, Taken will be delivering an important message regarding Online Safety and Cyber Bullying, something that Wood Green School will be focusing on after being selected to pilot the two-year Head of Wellbeing programme. By sharing their personal insights into their online experiences, Ireland’s next big boy band wants to help students recognise the importance of their behaviour online and encourage them to make sensible choices.

The significance of online safety is outlined by Ofcom who report that children aged 12-15yrs spend more time going online than watching television in a typical week. They also suggest that almost twice as many children aged 5-15yrs are going online via a tablet than in 20131. At the same time, Childline warns that cyber-bullying and social media are having a worrying effect on children's confidence and self-esteem2.  

Terry Austin, Nuffield Health Head of Wellbeing, Wood Green School comments:

“It is great to have Taken perform at the school and for the students to enjoy their music. However their visit highlights an important message about online safety and the impact it can have on students’ wellbeing. As part of the Head of Wellbeing pilot, and with young people spending more and more time online, I want to make sure pupils have the right information and resources available to them in order to navigate the web safely and securely. We are committed to empowering pupils to use the internet wisely and feel that this is a great way to engage with pupils on the subject.”

Up and coming boy band Taken describe their music as feel good classic pop – something which is proving to be very popular with their fans! The band is selling out shows all over Ireland and has just finished recording a TV show for Irish channel RTE and ITV2 in the UK. They have already supported Olly Murs and Union J on tour.

Richard Young, Head of Digital Learning, Wood Green School says:

“Online safety is a crucial area for schools to address as part of supporting the wellbeing of all pupils. We fully welcome this exciting way of delivering the message of staying safe online to students in addition to the work we do in lessons.”

The visit was organised as part of the Nuffield Health Head of Wellbeing Pilot, designed to address a number of important issues that children and young people face today. The two year project focuses on improving the health and wellbeing of pupils and staff by achieving sustained behavioural change.

Nuffield Health, in partnership with Wood Green School hope to reduce sedentary behaviour, positively impact mental wellbeing and academic attainment as well as improve healthy eating behaviours. With staff the pilot is looking to positively impact physical activity levels, mental wellbeing and work productivity focusing on absence and presenteeism.

Last updated Tuesday 15 March 2016

First published on Friday 4 March 2016