Kentmere Academy one of 400 schools in UK to receive Online Safety Mark award

Kentmere Academy

Rochdale school Kentmere Academy and Nursery is one of just 400 schools in the UK to be awarded the prestigious Online Safety Mark for excellence in online safety provision.

The Online Safety Mark is only awarded to schools that have demonstrated best practice in safeguarding their children online, whether they are in school, in their homes or out and about using mobile devices.

Schools that are able to show good practice in their e-safety policy and procedures can apply for the Online Safety Mark. Since its release in 2009, only 400 schools have received the award. Schools must achieve national benchmark levels using an online safety self-review tool, ‘360 degree safe’.

The assessor, Ron Richards, gave praise to Kentmere, writing that there were many positive aspects to the review, such as a review of the online safety curriculum and materials used throughout the school.

The school also carefully maps progression of skills and knowledge across the curriculum.

Mr Richards went on to say “Kentmere has addressed provision in the light of the Covid pandemic and lockdowns” through the use of remote learning schemes, whilst provision of technology and the support for parents and carers helps ensure that children have been safe online at home and that home learning has been carried out effectively.

Furthermore, staff and governors have up-to-date training. 

Rochdale MP Sir Tony Lloyd has congratulated the school on its award and has written to the school’s headteacher, Nicola Howard.

He said: "I would like to congratulate Kentmere Academy and Nursery on their achievement in receiving the nationally recognised Online Safety Mark. 

"The Online Safety Mark recognises only those schools who have demonstrated the very best practice in protecting children online. 

"The school is one of only 400 across the UK who have received this coveted recognition and I'm pleased that they have been rewarded for their work. 

"I'm sure Kentmere Academy and Nursery have set an example for other schools in Rochdale looking to improve their online safety provision."

The Online Safety Mark is externally awarded by South West Grid for Learning Trust, a UK Safer Internet Centre partner, which created and maintains the award winning 360 degree safe tool that supports over 15,000 schools.