SESSIONS teaching secondary school students about staying safe online are being held at schools in Rowley Regis and Oldbury.

The Clickwise sessions, aimed at students, parents and carers from across the borough, will focus on online safety and filters, child sexual exploitation (CSE) and exposure to pornography and other dangers online.

Being held at St Michael’s School in Rowley Regis and Oldbury Academy, the sessions will be delivered by Adam Shaikh, the Youth Commissioner of Sandwell and chairman of SHAPE Youth Forum.

There will also be a performance and workshop focusing on spotting signs of grooming and exploitation from Loudmouth Education and Training, which are specialists in delivering safeguarding programmes.

Councillor Simon Hackett, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for children's services, is backing the initiative. He said: “With children and young people now spending more time online it is essential they know how to stay safe.

“These sessions will give parents and carers some really good tips on how they can keep their children safe online and look out for warning signs of potential dangers.

“I urge people to get their place as soon as possible.”

The first session is at St Michael’s School, in Curral Road, on Wednesday (November 29), followed by another at Oldbury Academy, in Pound Road, on April 17, 2018.

To book a place on either session, which take place from 6pm to 8pm, with doors opening at 5.30pm, visit www.sandwell.gov.uk/shapeevents.

Clickwise is a partnership venture led by Sandwell Council through the SHAPE Programme (child’s voice initiative in Sandwell) with local organisations such as West Midlands Police, Brook, Youth Services and Sandwell’s child sexual exploitation (CSE) team.

The event is sponsored by the Safer Sandwell Partnership Local Police & Crime Board (SSPCB).