In reaction to the government announcement on the social media ban for under 16s (15 June 2026), Head Fionnuala Kennedy comments:
‘Schools like ours long ago banned phones and applied filters to technology whilst in school to prevent access to social media, as we waited for government intervention. So Starmer’s announcement regarding a ban on social media for Under 16s is a welcome step in the right direction – but, despite the wait, it doesn’t go anywhere near far enough. Schools and parents cannot be left to police this ban alone, especially for children who have already had years of access and who will already be devising work-arounds. Big Tech needs to be held to account, not only in terms of harmful content but also features such as infinite scrolling – and until this happens, we will continue to be behind the curve in terms of protecting our children.’
Listen to Fionnuala in a recent interview on LBC Radio below, discussing the role that government, educators, parents and social media play in girls’ lives and the roles of girls’ schools in tackling misogyny :
“The key thing for parents and schools is to always leave doors open to young people so that they know they can come and talk (to you) in a non-judgemental way about mistakes they may have made or things they may have seen that frighten them. “
“Girls in our schools have a space to grow up and find a sense of self away from constant online pressures. It is absolutely crucial they find out who they are so that they can develop critical thinking skills and really understand that much of what they are being fed is disinformation – based on a quite cynical marketing industry – and not actually about what it is like to be a young woman in this brilliant world of ours.”
“Young people need to feel that they are respected and heard, and that they have safe people they can approach to talk about it.”