Supporting Students to Navigate the Digital World

In a world where technology is ever-present, Walford is committed to guiding students to use digital tools thoughtfully and responsibly. We recognise that our students are digital natives, growing up with information and entertainment readily available at their fingertips. At Walford, we engage the available benefits of technology and take a proactive approach, ensuring that each introduction to digital tools is intentional, age-appropriate, and designed to support students’ learning and wellbeing both in and out of the classroom.

Our response to technology begins in the Early Learning Centre (ELC), where we introduce our youngest learners to digital tools in a manner that aligns with their developmental needs. With careful guidance from educators, children use iPads as tools to document their inquiries, capture their discoveries, and access educational content that complements their learning. This mindful, limited use of technology enables young learners to explore and capture knowledge in a way that enhances, rather than distracts from, their natural curiosity.

As students progress to Reception and beyond, each girl receives a school-provided iPad, enabling her to build foundational digital literacy skills. By incorporating digital tools in select lessons, we teach practical navigation skills, technology terminology, and ways to use these tools to extend research and learning. Every app and program is school-provided, ensuring a clear focus on educational goals and responsible use. This intentional approach shapes technology as a resource to empower, rather than simply entertain, creating a strong framework for digital learning.

Our structured approach to technology also includes clear boundaries. iPads are used selectively within lessons, and mobile phones are not part of the school day, allowing students to remain present and engaged. This balance allows us to teach digital literacy and safety comprehensively, emphasising both the benefits and potential pitfalls of digital engagement. By cultivating mindful, responsible use, Walford encourages students to see technology as a tool - one that can enhance their learning when used thoughtfully.

As students move into secondary school, our approach shifts to foster independence and self-management. Responsible use becomes the critical theme, supported through our Wellbeing, Engagement and Belonging program. Here, age-appropriate activities teach students the rights and obligations associated with technology, encouraging them to navigate it with Walford’s values in mind. Each year, students sign our responsible use policies, reinforcing their commitment to thoughtful technology use.

Our bespoke wellbeing curriculum tackles technology’s relevance to identity and safety, covering scenarios that encourage students to think critically about device use. Whether they’re using VR goggles for simulations, filming experiments, drafting reports, or analysing data in spreadsheets, technology enriches their learning experiences. Equally, we encourage time away from screens to emphasise the benefits of in-person interaction and balance.

Walford’s technology policies don’t just focus on usage but also build social skills crucial in today’s world. Students learn the importance of social etiquette, such as putting devices away during meals and engaging meaningfully with peers. These habits nurture socially aware young people who can carry these values into life beyond school.

Understanding the rapidly evolving digital landscape requires a community effort, which is why Walford partners closely with parents. We provide resources and seminars to keep families informed and to strengthen our collective understanding of responsible technology use. Our signature event, ‘Navigating the Digital World: Students Teach Parents’, is a testament to this partnership, with students sharing insights about their learning and skills, and parents being informed about the latest trends and ways to support their daughters to thrive in the digital world.

Walford’s approach to technology is guided by intentionality, responsibility, and balance. By fostering early digital literacy, setting clear boundaries, and involving the whole school community, we ensure that students not only use technology as a learning tool but also develop the judgment to manage it wisely. Our commitment is to equip each student with the skills and mindset needed to navigate the digital world thoughtfully, setting a foundation that will serve them well beyond their years at Walford.