Blocking pupils’ access to unsuitable websites does not encourage them to take responsibility for their safety online, Ofsted inspectors say.
“Managed” online systems were more successful than “locked” ones at safeguarding pupils’ safety, they said. In a report, Ofsted said the area most in need of improvement was online safety training for teaching staff.
The report was published in E-safety Week, which aims to raise awareness of some of the dangers of technologies. Ofsted inspectors visited 33 primary and secondary schools, a special school and a pupil referral unit and found e-safety was outstanding in five, good in 16, satisfactory in 13 and inadequate in one.
The five schools judged outstanding for online safety all used managed systems to help pupils become responsible users of technology. Where the provision for e-safety was outstanding, the schools had managed rather than locked down systems.
Blocking pupils’ access to unsuitable websites does not encourage them to take responsibility for their safety online, Ofsted inspectors say. “Managed” online systems were more successful than “locked” ones at safeguarding pupils’ safety, they said. In a report, Ofsted said the area most in need of improvement was online safety training for teaching staff.The report was published in E-safety Week, which aims to raise awareness of some of the dangers of technologies. Ofsted inspectors visited 33 primary and secondary schools, a special school and a pupil referral unit and found e-safety was outstanding in five, good in 16, satisfactory in 13 and inadequate in one.The five schools judged outstanding for online safety all used managed systems to help pupils become responsible users of technology.Where the provision for e-safety was outstanding, the schools had managed rather than locked down systems
From BBC website
Key recommendations to schools…
- audit the training needs of all staff and provide training to improve their knowledge of and expertise in the safe and appropriate use of new technologies
- work closely with all families to help them ensure that their children use new technologies safely and responsibly both at home and at school
- use pupils’ and families’ views more often to develop e-safety strategies manage the transition from locked down systems to more managed systems to help pupils understand how to manage risk; to provide them with richer learning experiences; and to bridge the gap between systems at school and the more open systems outside school
- provide an age-related, comprehensive curriculum for e-safety which enables pupils to become safe and responsible users of new technologies
- work with their partners and other providers to ensure that pupils who receive part of their education away from school are e-safe
- systematically review and develop their e-safety procedures, including training, to ensure that they have a positive impact on pupils’ knowledge and understanding.
Read the full report here: The safe use of new technologies (PDF)
