There has been a great deal of coverage recently about the Government’s proposal to ban access to social media to children under the age of sixteen. I had a feeling the topic might pique the boys’ interest at assembly, and I wasn’t disappointed with the range and quality of contributions. Even the youngest boys were keen to have their say with reasoned arguments put for and against the ban. One boy said that there was a lot of good educational material on sites such as YouTube, to which I had to agree. Many an evening from the author of these notes has been passed viewing political documentaries from the 1960s and ‘70s. I’d even go so far as to say the quality of political discourse (and courtesy) was higher than our own day. Daniel from Year 8 conceptualised the debate on social media as being about online safety and child protection. Problems associated with ‘doom scrolling’ and brain inertia were touched upon. Christopher in Year 6 questioned whether government legislation would work in practice? His argument, piercingly incisive, is that the genie is out of the bottle: social media, whether we like it or not, is ubiquitous and young teenagers will simply find ways around any restrictions. A blanket ban, as is proposed, may not be efficacious. Christopher was echoing Ian Russell, father of teenager Holly Russell, who has said that the government should enforce existing laws rather than ‘implementing sledgehammer techniques like bans’.

Daniel (Year 8) made the final point, which was a direct question about what I thought about a ban on social media. I explained that I am a libertarian at heart who is quite sceptical about what governments think can be achieved by legislation versus what is actually achieved. I suppose I was taking my inspiration from JS Mill that small government enables greater individual agency and, in the case of children, restrictions are best set by parents rather than institutions or the writ of law. In the final analysis, however, I concluded that the risk posed by social media to children – their personal safety and psychological and academic development - led me to think that government intervention was justified. Pupils, as always, are free to take an opposing view or one that is more nuanced. It was wonderful to see the children so well engaged and enthused by a topic of such great significance.

Valete

These are the last Notes of the academic year and I would like to close by paying tribute to colleagues who will be moving on to pastures new.

• Sarah Halley leaves us as Head of Nursery. Under Sarah’s leadership the Nursery has flourished.
• Nicola McMenamin leaves to take up a teaching post in Palma.
• Natasa Kyriakakou is moving on, having taught Latin here for three years.
• Rishi Vadera is leaving to take up the post of Head of Maths at St Helen’s Northwood.
• Oscar Daniel is developing his sporting career by taking up a role at Eltham College.

I would like to thank each of these colleagues for their hard work and dedication to the pupils of St Anthony’s. They will be greatly missed and we wish them well in the next stage of their careers.

I will introduce new members of staff at the start of the academic year. As a result of the school’s strong academic and pastoral reputation, I was able to attract a great number of applicants and to make outstanding appointments.

I will close now by wishing you all a very happy and restful summer.  Term closes on Thursday 9^th July at 11:30 am and the school re-opens for pupils on Thursday 3^rd September. God bless you all.

This week, pupils in Years 5 and 6 visited Keats’ House. The cover illustration is an 18^th Century print of the Piazza di Spagna in Rome, the location of Keats’ death.