360 degree safe Online Safety Mark

An Assessor from the South West Grid for Learning recently visited  Prince Henry’s High School to review the school’s online safety provision. The Assessor met school staff, parents and carers, Governors and pupils/students and was pleased to find that the school provides a high level of protection for users of online technologies.

The South West Grid for Learning Trust provides a range of online/digital technology services to schools across the UK  and is in the forefront of national and international developments in online safety.  To enhance these services, SWGfL has developed the 360 degree safe self review tool to help schools address online safety issues. The online tool allows schools to evaluate their online safety policy and practice and then suggests how the school might do more to protect young people and staff.

To apply for the 360 degree safe Online Safety Mark, schools have to reach a series of benchmark levels when they complete the online self review. The evidence is then verified by a visit from experienced Assessors.

The prime benefit of using the review and applying for the Online Safety Mark is that it does not focus on the individual aspects of online safety such as technological solutions, but instead it integrates online safety into school policy and the curriculum, challenging teachers and managers in the school to think about their provision and its continual evolution.

Schools are expected to show that they have provided a high standard of online safety education and awareness for all staff, students/pupils and also for parents and carers, to ensure that these users can be safe online – whether they are in school, in their homes or out and about using portable devices.

Following their visit the Assessor(s) reported that:

“Through its comprehensive and regularly reinforced online safety education and training programme, Prince Henry’s High School has successfully developed high levels of digital literacy among its members. This programme ensures students are well-versed in critical themes such as identity theft, safe use of AI, understanding copyright, and managing their digital footprint, preparing them effectively for the complexities of the digital world.”

The foundation of the school’s online safety success is built on robust governance and well-established practices: “The school demonstrates that there is strong leadership for online safety, with responsibilities clearly understood and upheld and policies in place and embedded”

The school’s “online safety policy has been developed over several years, is comprehensive and addresses technical, educational and safeguarding aspects” and is “updated annually, or more frequently if required”.

The school employs robust and effective monitoring, noting that “All school provided IT systems are actively monitored at all times, even if the equipment is off-site”.

Ron Richards, Lead Assessor for the 360 degree safe Online Safety Mark congratulated the school on its success and commented that it was re-assuring to know that the school had put a lot of thought and effort into improving the on-line safety of the staff and young people, by addressing these important safeguarding issues.