Online Safety

Online Safety at Colyton Grammar School 

At Colyton Grammar School, keeping students safe online is a fundamental part of our safeguarding responsibilities, as set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025. Online safety is embedded across our curriculum, our policies, our pastoral systems and our technical infrastructure. 

Our aim is to help students become confident, safe, responsible and respectful digital citizens, equipped to navigate the online world now and in the future. 

1. How We Teach Online Safety 

We follow the Department for Education’s Teaching Online Safety in Schools guidance, which outlines how pupils should learn to stay safe and behave appropriately online. Online safety is taught through: 

Curriculum Areas 
 

• PSHE / RSE – relationships, consent, online behaviour, harmful content, digital footprints 
• Computing – privacy, security, algorithms, cyber security basics 
• Tutor Time & Assemblies – topical issues, emerging risks, digital wellbeing 
• ​Dropdown days / workshops – specialist sessions from external partners 

What Students Learn 

Across Key Stages 3–5, students learn about: 

• Safe and healthy online relationships 
• Managing online reputation and digital identity 
• Cyberbullying and respectful communication 
• Grooming, exploitation and unsafe contact 
• Sharing images (including nudes/semi-nudes) 
• Media literacy, misinformation and fake news 
• Gaming safety & online chat 
• Privacy settings, passwords & personal data 
• Scams, fraud, phishing & emerging risks 
• ​The impact of AI and algorithms 

2. How We Keep Students Safe Online in School 

Our protections align with DfE guidance on online safety in schools and colleges, including expectations for filtering and monitoring systems.

Technical Measures 

We use robust filtering and monitoring systems to: 

• Block access to harmful or inappropriate content 
• Alert safeguarding staff to concerning activity 
• Monitor trends and identify risks 
• ​Ensure safe internet access on all school devices and networks 

Filtering and monitoring systems are regularly reviewed and updated in line with DfE expectations. 

School Level Safeguarding Measures 

• Annual and ongoing staff training on online safety 
• Regular safeguarding briefings for tutors and staff teams 
• Clear Acceptable Use Policies (AUP) for students and staff 
• Managed student use of school devices 
• A clear, age appropriate Mobile Phone Policy 
• ​Supervision in ICT based lessons 

3. Supporting Students to Stay Safe Online 

Students can access help, advice and support at any time by talking to: 

• Their Tutor or Head of Year 
• The Pastoral Team / Wellbeing Centre 
• Designated Safeguarding Leads 
• ​A trusted adult in school 

We encourage reporting of any concern, big or small. All concerns are managed sensitively and in line with school safeguarding procedures. 

4. Guidance for Parents & Carers 

Parents play an essential role in supporting online safety. 

Below are recommended, high quality national resources: 

• UK Safer Internet Centre – online safety guides, advice and reporting tools - https://saferinternet.org.uk  
• NSPCC – Online Safety – parental controls, age appropriate guidance, Family Connect - https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/online-safety/online-safety-for-schools  
• CEOP / Thinkuknow – support for reporting exploitation, grooming or unsafe behaviour - https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/  
• Internet Matters – devicespecific safety guides and parental controls - ​https://www.internetmatters.org  

How Parents Can Support at Home 

• Talk regularly with young people about their online lives 
• Set appropriate parental controls and privacy settings 
• Encourage open conversations about mistakes or concerns 
• Agree clear expectations for device use 
• ​Model positive, respectful online behaviour 

5. Reporting Concerns 

If students or parents are worried about something online, they can contact: 

• A member of the safeguarding team 
• The Pastoral Team / Wellbeing Centre 
• Their Tutor or Head of Year Or report directly to CEOP if concerned about exploitation: ​https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/  

All concerns are treated seriously and managed in line with our Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy. 

6. Key Documents 

• Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy 
• Online Safety Policy 
• Acceptable Use Agreements (Students / Staff) 
• Mobile Phone Policy (Awaiting approval)
• ​Remote Learning Policy (Awaiting approval)

7. Additional External Support for Students 

Below is a selection of trusted national organisations offering further online safety support: 

• Childline – 0800 1111 
• YoungMinds – mental health & digital wellbeing 
• Report Harmful Content – advice on reporting across platforms 
• ​The Mix (13–25) – support with online relationships, bullying & safety