Holy Trinity Primary School receives award for online safety. 

Mr Richards, Lead Assessor from the South West Grid for Learning recently visited Holy Trinity Primary  School to review the school’s online safety provision. He met school staff, parents and carers, Governors and pupils and was pleased to find that the school provides a high level of protection for users of the new technologies.  

The South West Grid for Learning Trust provides the 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 of the new technologies can be safe online – whether they are in school, in their homes or out and about using mobile phones or other handheld devices.  

Following their visit the Assessor(s) reported that: 

• ‘What a wonderful group of pupils! The Digital Leaders are a credit to the school. My conversations with them could easily have gone on for much longer. They provided an excellent report of what they had been doing and were confident in suggesting the importance of their impact. '

• There is ‘Strong leadership of online safety, from the Principal,  the Online Safety Lead (with release from teaching), the ICT Core Group and senior leaders. The commitment and the provision is genuinely “whole-school”.’ 

• ‘The online safety curriculum provides the children with good knowledge and the confidence to deal with online safety harms and threats as they arise. The lessons are supported by assemblies, active participation in Safer Internet Week and a wide range of other opportunities, including a high level of support from other agencies. The monthly eSafety codes provide a unique way of getting these important online safety messages to the whole school community.’ 

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. 

We would like to thank all our staff, Governors, parents and pupils for helping us achieve this award. A special thanks goes to Mrs Rooney and Miss Mc Laughlin our ICT Coordinators for preparing the self review.