BARNTON Community Primary School has been praised for the quality of its on-line protection for staff and children.

Assessors from the South West Grid for Learning visited the school to review its e-safety provision.

They met staff, parents and carers, governors and pupils, and found the school provided a high level of protection for users of the new technologies.

During the visit the school was presented with an E-Safety award.

Ron Richards, lead assessor for the 360 degree safe E-Safety Mark, congratulated the school on its success.

“It was re-assuring to know 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,” he said.

The assessors praised the whole school community culture, ethos and commitment to safe and responsible use of technology, the ‘powerful eCadets leadership’ and joint working with Liz Stanton from the Safer Schools Partnership.

The South West Grid for Learning Trust provides internet connection and other services to schools across the SW region.

To enhance these services it has developed a tool to help schools address e-safety issues, not least changes to Ofsted inspections, which include a stronger focus on safeguarding.

The online tool allows schools to evaluate their e-safety policy and practice and suggests how they might do more to protect young people and staff.

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

Schools are expected to show they have provided a high standard of e-safety education and awareness for all staff, students/pupils and parents and carers, to ensure these users of the new technologies can be safe online – whether in school, in their homes or out and about using mobile phones or other hand-held devices.

The main benefit of using the review and applying for the E-Safety Mark is that it does not focus on individual aspects of e-safety such as technological solutions, but instead integrates e-safety into school policy and the curriculum.