Smoothwall Monitoring and Filtering

At St. Bernadette's Catholic Primary School, the safety of our pupils extends to their online activities. We use Smoothwall, a robust monitoring and filtering application, to ensure a secure digital environment for all users on our school network.

Smoothwall helps us to:

• Protect pupils from accessing inappropriate or harmful online content.
• Monitor online activity to identify and respond to potential safeguarding concerns.
• Support teaching and learning by enabling access to appropriate and educational resources.

This system operates in line with statutory requirements, including the Department for Education's guidelines on online safety and filtering. Smoothwall works seamlessly in the background to provide a safe and productive online experience for pupils, staff, and visitors.

For more information on how we ensure online safety, please refer to our Online Safety Policy, available from the school office.

Our Online Safety Lead is Mr. A Turner.

At St. Bernadette's we encourage the use of technology to support learning and creativity. We take Internet Safety extremely seriously believing that all children have the right to feel safe and secure online. 

Throughout ICT lessons we teach children how to use the internet and technology safely and how to behave in an appropriate manner.

Children know what to do when they feel uncomfortable about anything online and we encourage this procedure at home.  If they see anything they are uncomfortable with they should inform an adult immediately. 

We also ensure every parent signs a Parent/Guardian Acceptable Use Agreement.  This agreement ensures that their child will be a responsible user and will stay safe while using the internet and other communications whilst at school or home,   Each child will also sign a Children's Online Safety Pledge.  

WAKE UP WEDNESDAY
WakeUpWednesday is a digital awareness campaign designed to help parents, carers, and educators stay informed about the latest trends, risks, and opportunities in children’s online lives. Each week, it shares practical guides on topics such as social media safety, gaming, online privacy, and digital wellbeing. The aim is to support families in creating safe, balanced, and positive experiences in today’s digital world.