We are delighted to have successfully achieved the accreditation to become a

National Online Safety Certified School.

This is to certify that a whole school community approach in online safety is being undertaken at The Academy of Cuxton Schools through empowering its leaders, teachers, governors, all staff and parents/carers.

National Online Safety is a multi-award winning digital training provider with extensive resources in online safety, developed in line with the Department of Education’s statutory requirements.

An effective community approach to online safety aims to protect and educate pupils in their safe use of the internet and technology, whilst enabling trusted adults with the essential information to identify online risks and escalate any incident where appropriate. 

What is online safety?

The National Curriculum sets the expectation for children to become digitally literate, being able to use, express themselves and develop their ideas through the use of digital technology in order to prepare them for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world. It is also a requirement that children are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of digital technology.

Online safety encompasses digital technologies and electronic communications such as mobile phones as well as collaboration tools and personal publishing services. It highlights the need to educate pupils about the benefits and risks of using digital technologies and services, providing safeguarding awareness to enable users to remain safe, legal and control their online experience. 

Online safety is everyone's responsibility. 

Useful Websites and Resources

Resources and Websites for Parents/Carers

• Government Advice – Follow this link for the latest online safety update from the Government during COVID–19 conditions.
• Share Aware –   It can be hard to keep track of what your child is doing on social networks, apps and games. Or know how to keep them safe.  Together we’re helping parents untangle the web. And teach their children to be Share Aware.  Because, just like in real life, kids need your help to stay safe online.
• Think U Know – Thinkuknow is the education programme from NCA-CEOP, a UK organisation which protects children both online and offline.
• Childnet: Childnet International is a non-profit organisation working in partnership with others around the world to help make the internet a great and safe place for children. The Childnet website hosts all the online resources detailed below, as well as a number of recommended resources for young people, parents, carers and teachers.
• Digizen: A website providing information and advice to encourage responsible digital citizenship. It shares advice and guidance on preventing and responding to cyberbullying, including the film ‘Let’s Fight It Together’ and specific information on social networking.

Parent Guides

• NSPCC - National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children - Guides to support parents with online safety advice
• Talking Points. Talking to your child – openly, and regularly – is the best way to help keep them safe online.

Parental Controls and Filtering

• A Parents’ Guide to Technology: The UK Safer Internet Centre has created this guide to answer commonly asked questions and introduce some of the most popular devices used by children, highlighting the safety tools available and empowering parents with the knowledge they need to support their children to use these technologies safely and responsibly.
• Internet Parental Controls: The four big internet providers – BT, Sky, Talk Talk and Virgin Media – provide their customers with free parental controls that can be activated at any time. Video tutorials on how to download and use these controls are available on the UK Safer Internet Centre website.

Computer Protection and Security

• Get Safe Online: A government website which focuses on online computer security and protection issues. It contains advice about firewalls, spyware and antivirus protection as well as how to protect children online.

Social Networking

• The Academy of Cuxton Schools recommends that pupils avoid using all social networking sites and tools until they are of an appropriate age to do so.  If parents/families allow the use of such sites then they are strongly advised to use nicknames and avatars when using social networking sites, blogs, Wikis, instant messengers etc. Avatars and nicknames help give pupil’s a ‘hidden’ identity on the internet rather than encouraging them to upload photographs of themselves.

• SWGfL Social Media Checklists up to date and free to download guides on social media sites including TikTok and Roblox.
• NetAware is your guide to the social networks your kids use. Stay up to date and keep your child safe in today’s digital world. Includes specific guidance for the most popular sites/apps including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and Twitter as well as an A-Z guide to many others.
• With DoppelMe you can create a cool graphical likeness of yourself, your friends, family or any group of people for use as an avatar in forums, instant messenger, blogs and almost anywhere else on the web.