Digital Permanence Lesson - KS3 PSHE ICT Computing

Every post, comment, and tag leaves a mark. This session asks KS3 students to confront what that actually means - not through warnings and worst-case scenarios, but through the work of being an auditor.

Students review six items from a fictional student’s digital record - a screenshot of an argument thread, a relative’s Facebook post, a YouTube channel from age nine - and for each one they rate the risk, explain their reasoning, and decide whether it can be fixed.

The session introduces the AUDIT framework: five questions students can ask before posting anything online. By the end, they have applied it to real content decisions and produced a set of fixes for posts that are about to go live.

What’s included

• On the Record.pptx - full editable presentation with speaker notes on every slide
• Activity 1 (shorter version) - Alex’s Record, items 1-4, suits 50 minutes
• Activity 1 (longer version) - Alex’s Record, items 1-6, suits 60 minutes
• Activity 2 - Fix It Before It’s Live student sheet
• Activity 2 teacher answer guide
• Lesson reflection sheet - also works as an exit ticket or homework
• Teacher notes with full timing guidance, differentiation, and curriculum mapping
• AUDIT Framework poster included - dark background version

Themes explored
Digital permanence, online reputation, risk assessment, the passive footprint, context and consent, what can and cannot be fixed once something is online.

Curriculum links
PSHE Association Programme of Study (KS3 - Living in the Wider World and Relationships), Statutory RSHE 2020 (Online Relationships, Being Safe), Computing National Curriculum KS3, Ofsted Personal Development and SMSC.
Practical details

Suitable for Years 6-9
50-60 minutes
No computers required

This lesson is part of the Digital Footprint Series. The complete bundle - three sessions designed to run as a half-day transition day, drop-down digital literacy session, or three-lesson PSHE unit - is available here:
The Whole Picture - Digital Footprint Series
The free AUDIT Framework poster is available here:
AUDIT Framework Poster - free