Setting

Alexandra House 33 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE T 08456 404040 F 020 7421 6855 www.ofsted.gov.uk enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk

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Mrs M Orson Headteacher Bishop Wilson Church of England Primary School Pike Drive Chelmsley Wood Birmingham West Midlands B37 7US

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – E-safety

Thank you for your hospitality and co-operation, and that of your staff, during my visit on 20 May 2009 to look at work in e-safety.

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – E-safety

As outlined in my initial letter, this visit looked at:  the extent to which schools teach learners to adopt safe and responsible practices in using new technologies  e-safety training for staff.

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – E-safety

The visit provided valuable information which will contribute to our national evaluation and reporting. Published reports are likely to list the names of the contributing institutions but individual institutions will not be identified in the main text. All feedback letters will be published on the Ofsted website at the end of each half-term.

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – E-safety

The evidence used to inform the judgements made included interviews with staff and pupils, scrutiny of relevant documentation and an analysis of pupils’ work.

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – E-safety

The overall effectiveness of e-safety was judged to be outstanding.

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Outcomes for learners

 Pupils are exceptionally well informed about e-safety issues. Across the year groups, the internet is used as a valuable resource and pupils are well aware of the advantages and possible pitfalls in its use. For example, pupils were keen to point out that not all the information they find on line is necessarily accurate.  Pupils have a clear understanding of what to do if they come across unsuitable material, explaining that they should, ‘minimise the screen and tell an adult’. They know that they should ensure that images are copyright free before downloading them.  Pupils explained clearly the care that should be taken to avoid viruses and were aware that someone might insert a ‘cookie’ in a computer if an email from an unknown source were opened.  From the earliest age, pupils learn the importance of keeping passwords and personal information secret and they know why they should. Older pupils described how someone might lie about their age

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Outcomes for learners

and try to make friends with them.  Many pupils own mobile phones and they have a keen awareness that they might be misused and how to avoid becoming a victim of cyberbullying, and what to do should it occur.  Some older pupils use social networking sites at home. They are aware that this should be done, if at all, under parental supervision. They said that some pupils have free access to these sites but that they had not heard of any untoward incidents.

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Quality of provision

The quality of provision is outstanding.

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Quality of provision

 Curriculum plans, including those outside ICT, outline precisely when opportunities should be taken to teach pupils about keeping safe as they use the internet.  Teachers use this guidance to build in aspects of e-safety in many lessons. For example, pupils talked enthusiastically about their research into Roman weapons, rainforest animals and life in Egyptian times. They remembered the advice given by teachers about trusted web sites and possible misinformation. Lessons in PHSE frequently include aspects of e-safety. Pupils recalled their discussions about cyberbullying during a recent anti-bullying week.  Staff use the excellent guidance about what aspects of e-safety to cover at each stage from Nursery to Year 6, in order to introduce ideas progressively across pupils’ school life.  Learning about e-safety is embedded in all relevant activities, so pupils new to the school and those who have been absent are kept up to date

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Quality of provision

with e-safety issues.  Posters in every classroom, some made by the pupils, reinforce e- safety and remind pupils of the acceptable use agreement. Large posters at each entrance to the school summarise e-safety guidance for parents.  The managed ICT system enables a very good balance to be struck between equipping pupils with the expertise to assess risks for themselves, and blocking certain unsuitable topics or websites.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of e-safety are outstanding.  Comprehensive guidelines explain clearly the responsibilities of all staff, what to look out for and what action to take should concerns be raised.  You regularly review these guidelines in the light of changing circumstances, for example when new equipment such as digital recording devices is updated. Staff adhere to these guidelines closely. For example, Early Years Foundation Stage teachers keep a watchful eye on the children’s use of the new portable sound recording equipment.  You follow up any incidents, sensitively, and involve parents if necessary.  All staff have an unswerving commitment to keeping pupils safe. They are excited about the prospect of introducing pupils to the new learning platform and all that it will offer. At the same time there is a shared awareness that this might present additional risks which will need to be anticipated and, as far as possible, eliminated.

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Leadership and management

 Whilst you provide very useful information for parents and make every effort to engage them in thinking about e-safety, you acknowledge that progress is hard won and this impetus needs to be sustained.

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Quality of training

 Staff have benefited from a range of training courses over recent years and this has had a significant impact on their knowledge, understanding and expertise regarding e-safety.  The outstanding level of pupils’ awareness and knowledge about how to avoid risks is evidence that the training has made a significant impact on their learning.  Staff are very well informed and you are understandably waiting until the anticipated courses relating to the learning platform are set up before identifying further training.  You have rightly identified the need to devise a training programme which will systematically ensure all staff keep up to date as new technologies emerge.

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Areas for improvement, which we discussed, included:

 sustaining the impetus in engaging parents in ensuring their children use computers and mobile phones safely when not in school  refining the staff training programme to ensure continuity and cohesion as the school embraces new technologies.

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Areas for improvement, which we discussed, included:

I hope these observations are useful as you continue to develop e-safety in the school.

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Areas for improvement, which we discussed, included:

As I explained in my previous letter, a copy of this letter will be sent to your local authority and will be published on the Ofsted website. It will also be available to the team for your next institutional inspection. Yours sincerely

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