Digital Foundations and Online Safety

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infoWhy this? Secure habits, sound digital judgement, and effective organisation are essential for responsible participation in a connected world. We learn to protect accounts and personal information, recognise and report online risks, respect copyright, and manage digital work reliably.

scheduleWhy now? These behaviours are established from the first KS3 lessons because secure account use, prompt reporting, responsible conduct, and organised file management must underpin every subsequent use of school systems and digital tools.

Actions on school systems are attributable to the logged-in user account.
Acceptable use rules are safeguarding requirements, not optional guidelines.
Clear folder and file naming reduces mistakes and supports accountability in shared school systems.
Strong passwords are long, unique passphrases that avoid personal information.
Password reuse means one data breach can compromise multiple accounts.
Multi-factor authentication adds a second factor beyond a password.
Phishing messages often use urgency, impersonation, and suspicious links.
HTTPS encrypts data in transit between browser and website.
A padlock icon shows a secure connection, not trustworthy content.
A digital footprint can persist through copies, caches, and screenshots.
Metadata can reveal details such as author, time, and location.
Protecting online identity includes controlling personal information sharing and privacy settings.
Copyright protection is automatic when original work is created.
Online risk can involve inappropriate content, unwanted contact, and harmful conduct.
Online safety concerns must be reported quickly to a trusted adult.

rocket_launchYou must be able to

Use only your own school account.
Keep passwords secret and never disclose them to anyone.
Lock a device before leaving it unattended.
Sign out of shared devices after use.
Report any suspected account compromise immediately using the school's stated route.
Evaluate common online risks and choose safe actions.
Avoid clicking links, opening attachments, or replying to suspected phishing messages.
Verify a suspicious message through an independent, trusted channel.
Report suspected phishing using the school's stated route.
Recognise inappropriate content, contact, and conduct and report concerns through school safeguarding routes.
Apply copyright-aware and privacy-aware decisions when creating and sharing work.
Create and maintain sensible folder and file naming structures for school work.

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