Five minutes on Friday Issue#3 18th September 2026

Welcome to this week’s Five Minutes on Friday digest! As we settle further into the autumn term, we have a packed edition featuring upcoming local EdTech events, powerful professional development opportunities, and essential online safety guidance for your school community. Grab a quick coffee and take five minutes to get up to speed with what you need to know for Friday, 18th September 2026.

🍏 1. Apple RTC Conference: AI & Accessibility in the Classroom

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Transform your classroom this term with cutting-edge, inclusive technology strategies. The South Tyneside Apple Regional Training Centre, in partnership with Academia, invites you to our FREE Autumn Conference.

When: Thursday, 22nd October 2026

Where: The Word, South Shields

Details: Enjoy a full day of professional development, network over a complimentary lunch, and take home an exclusive goody bag packed with resources.

Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.
👉 RSVP: Please refer to your official event flyer to book your place.

Apple RTC Conference Invite

💻 2. Arbor Training

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We are hosting Arbor training specifically designed for headteachers and data managers.

When: Wednesday, 7th October 2026

Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Where: The Word, South Shields

Booking: Email Julia Small at

[email protected] to secure your place.

🛡️ 3. The Online Together Project

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https://www.internetmatters.org/the-online-together-project

Help your KS3 students think critically about what they see and do online with quick, interactive quizzes.

From spotting misinformation with Find the Fake, to tackling online hate and gender stereotypes with The Online Together Project (created in partnership with Samsung Electronics), these resources are designed to get students talking, thinking, and questioning what they encounter online, with minimal prep for teachers.  

👉 Explore the quizzes and discover more free online safety resources for schools here: The Online Together Project  

Thank you for reading this week’s edition of Five Minutes on Friday! Stay tuned for more EdTech updates, classroom ideas, and leadership tips in next week’s issue.  

Have a brilliant and relaxing weekend,  

Phillippa

The Prompt (Issue 9)

Welcome to issue 9. We hope you had a restful, well-deserved summer break. As a new school year begins, our mission is to ensure South Tyneside schools stay ahead of the curve. Whether you are an AI novice or an AI expert, this is your weekly home for the tools and digital principles defining the future of education. Each week, we’ll deliver three or four essential updates—ranging from DfE policy shifts to time-saving classroom hacks—specifically curated to reduce teacher workload and enhance learning across our South Tyneside community as safely as possible.

Save the Date: Apple RTC Autumn Conference 2026

We are thrilled to announce that the Apple RTC Autumn Conference will be hosted live at The Word, South Shields on Wednesday, 22nd October 2026!

This whole-day event will focus on two of the most critical topics in EdTech today: AI & Accessibility.

AI Champions Work Group

Haven’t nominated an AI Champion yet? Click the link to access our nomination form: CLICK HERE

CHANGE TO DATE – NOW Wednesday 18th NOVEMBER

  • Next meeting: Wednesday 18th November 2026, 16:00–17:30
  • Venue: The Word
  • Contact: Julia Small to book a place: [email protected]

Item 1: The Meta Settlement: What the Landmark US Case Means for Schools

In a historic $18 billion settlement this August, Meta was forced by US states to address the addictive, AI-driven design of Instagram and Facebook. To protect youth mental health and attention spans, Meta must now implement sweeping safeguards for under-18s, including:

  • School-Hour Blackouts: Notifications disabled during the school day.
  • Overnight Lockouts: App access blocked from midnight to 6 a.m.
  • Algorithmic Limits: A two-hour daily cap and the ability to disable AI-curated feeds entirely.

Why it matters here: While this is a US ruling, it validates what educators have warned about for years. It sets a global precedent that will likely pressure Ofcom to enforce similar strict design codes under the UK’s Online Safety Act. In the meantime, this ruling provides an excellent, real-world talking point for PSHE lessons on digital well-being and algorithmic manipulation.

Item 2: Free, Secure AI for Teachers: The GFF AI Toolkit

If you are eager to try generative AI to help with your workload but are worried about data privacy and school GDPR policies, we have great news. You can now sign up for the Good Future AI Toolkit at good-future.ai.

Created by the Good Future Foundation, this suite of AI tools is entirely free for educators. Crucially, it is DfE-backed, leveraging the Department for Education’s AI Content Store Advanced Support. This means the tools have been developed with a strict “privacy first” approach that adheres to the DfE’s GenAI Product Safety Framework.

Why we love it:

  • Zero Data Retention: Nothing you enter is saved, and no AI models are trained on your content, making it a completely risk-free space to experiment.
  • Practical Features: It includes purpose-built tools for UK teachers like a Quiz Generator, a Glossary Generator, and an AI Email Writer.
  • Peace of Mind: It removes the headache of wondering, “Am I allowed to put this into an AI?”

It will take about 30 seconds to sign up using the link below:

CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED

Item 3: Curriculum Ready: Common Sense Media AI Lessons

If you are looking for ready-made, high-quality materials to introduce AI to your students this term, Common Sense Media has exactly what you need. Aimed at years 7–13, these lessons can easily be used with Y6 as well.

They have developed a series of free AI Literacy Lessons that are incredibly useful to start the term. Designed to strengthen critical thinking, creativity, curiosity, and human connection, these lessons help students understand what AI is, how it works, and the ethical implications of using it.

The best part? The lessons are fully planned and can easily be written directly into your computing or PSHE curriculum for the year.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS LESSONS

Item 4: Question of the Week

If AI could take one administrative task completely off your plate this term, which one would you choose?

Contact Us:

If you have any questions or suggestions please contact:

Steve Robert: [email protected]

The Prompt: (Issue 8)

Your AI Newsletter

Issue 8

Please share this newsletter with colleagues in your setting!

Welcome to Issue 8 of your weekly briefing on all things AI. As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the educational landscape, our mission is to ensure South Tyneside schools stay ahead of the curve.

Whether you are an AI novice or an AI expert, this is your weekly home for the tools and digital principles defining the future of education. Each week, we’ll deliver essential updates curated to reduce teacher workload and enhance learning across our South Tyneside community as safely as possible.

🛠️ AI Champions Work Group

Haven’t nominated an AI Champion for your school yet? Click the link below to access our nomination form:

👉 CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE (Please use the form link to submit)

  • Next Meeting: Wednesday 11th November 2026, 16:00–17:30
  • Venue: The Word
  • Contact: Julia Small to book a place at: [email protected]

Item 1: AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material: Guidance for Parents and Carers

CEOP and the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) have released a vital new guide to help parents navigate the safeguarding risks of AI. The resource explains how AI can be misused to manipulate images of children and equips families with practical steps to reduce risks—such as reviewing privacy settings, auditing social media, and starting age-appropriate conversations about digital consent.

Access the full online guidance: Click Here to Access Online Guidance

There is also updated guidance for professionals, developed in collaboration with the IWF, providing essential information for all professionals working with children and young people on understanding and responding to AI-generated child sexual abuse material.

Download PDF Guides

Click on the images below to open and download the PDF versions.

Item 2: Create Your Own Games and Apps Using Gemini

Ever wanted to create a custom game for your classroom, but didn’t know how to code? We’ve launched a brand new website showcasing how you can build interactive web games using Google’s Gemini—just by having a conversation!

From matching capitals to Year 2 vocabulary and Year 6 maths explorers, you can play our AI-generated games and even see the exact prompts we used to make them.

🚀 Click here to visit the AI Games Lab and start building!

Item 3: Netflix’s Queen Of Chess On What Schools Are Getting Wrong About AI

What can the greatest female chess grandmaster in history teach us about the future of AI in the classroom?

In a compelling new piece by Dan Fitzpatrick, Queen of Chess star Judit Polgár draws a striking parallel between the anxiety educators face today and the massive disruption the chess world experienced thirty years ago. Long before ChatGPT, chess was the first profession reshaped by AI, leaving players wrestling with the same fears of obsolescence teachers feel now. Having lived through this shift firsthand, Polgár offers a powerful warning and unique insights into what schools are getting wrong.

Click Here to Access The Article

Item 4: Question of the Week

🏝️ How are you using AI this summer, that is not school related?

We want to hear from you! Let us know how you are playing or planning with AI over the summer break.

Have a Great Summer Holiday! ☀️

Thank you for your incredible support and engagement with The Prompt this term. Have a restful, safe, and wonderful summer holiday, and we will see you next term!

Contact Us: If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Steve Robert at [email protected].

The Prompt: (Issue 7)

Your AI Newsletter

Issue 7

Please share this newsletter with colleagues in your setting!

Welcome to issue 7 of your weekly briefing on all things AI. As AI continues to reshape the educational landscape, our mission is to ensure South Tyneside schools stay ahead of the curve. Whether you are an AI novice or an AI expert, this is your weekly home for the tools and digital principles defining the future of education.

Each week, we’ll deliver three or four essential updates—ranging from DfE policy shifts to time-saving classroom hacks—specifically curated to reduce teacher workload and enhance learning across our South Tyneside community as safely as possible.

🚀 AI Champions Work Group

Haven’t nominated an AI Champion yet? Click the link to access our nomination form:

👉 CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE

  • Next Meeting: Wednesday 11th November 2026, 16:00-17:30
  • Venue: The Word
  • Contact to Book: Email Julia Small at [email protected] to secure a place.

🌐 Item 1: Global Crackdown: The Under-16 Social Media & AI Ban

The momentum for youth digital bans has peaked. Following legislation in Australia, Indonesia, and Malaysia, the UK has announced a sweeping ban on social media for anyone under 16, set for full enforcement by Spring 2027.

The intersection with artificial intelligence is twofold:

  • The 18+ Rule for AI Companions: Regulators are looking past traditional feeds to target generative AI. The new rules strictly enforce an 18+ age minimum for AI romantic companions, roleplay bots, and “intimate functionalities” to prevent algorithmic manipulation and emotional dependency.
  • Enforcement via AI (Facial Estimation): To enforce the ban without hoarding passports, tech companies are turning to Highly Effective Age Assurance (HEAA). This relies heavily on AI facial age estimation—scanning a live selfie to verify a user’s age bracket without storing their identity.

The Catch: Critics and tech giants warn that the required AI face-scanning creates a massive privacy checkpoint for all internet users, while tech-savvy teens will likely bypass it entirely using VPNs or go to the darker parts of the web.

🧠 Item 2: Can Your Pupils Spot the AI Fake?

After last week’s Real or AI quiz from Britannica Education, we have curated some more excellent activities from other sources you may want to use with your pupils:

1. BBC Bitesize: Artificial Or Real?

Can you tell the difference between a real video or picture, or one that has been generated by artificial intelligence (AI)? Have a go and let’s see if you can spot the REAL from the AI!

2. Sightengine: Which Image Is AI?

Here are 2 images. One is AI-generated, the other one is real. Can you tell which one is AI? Test your skills!

3. Google Arts & Culture Experiments

Google Arts & Culture offers incredible interactive experiments to test your AI literacy:

  • Odd One Out: Can you spot the odd one out? Guess the AI-generated “imposters” hidden among the artworks on Google Arts & Culture. One of these images is not like the other—it is created by Google AI.
  • Say What You See: Learn the art of the prompt and improve your image-reading skills by looking at Google AI-generated images and describing what you see, in this experiment created by artist Jack Wild.

📬 Item 3: Food for Thought: The “Ghost in the Inbox”

With the rise of advanced AI email agents, we are rapidly approaching a weird milestone: Within the next year, it is highly likely you will receive an email written entirely by an AI agent, which will then draft a reply and archive it—without either human ever knowing the exchange took place.

So the question is:

If two machines have a meeting in the woods and no human is around to read the transcript… does the meeting actually happen?

Drop a reply using our feedback form below and tell us if this sounds like a productivity paradise or a dystopian nightmare!

Contact Us

If you have any questions or further suggestions, please get in touch: 📧 Steve Robert: [email protected]