Online Safety Mark

Ysgol Bro Gwaun has “a clear and consistent approach and online safety is everyone’s business” resulting in the awarding of a prestigious Online Safety Mark award.

A SWGfL (South West Grid for Learning) assessor visited Ysgol Bro Gwaun earlier this year to review the school’s online safety provision and highlighted the school’s clear and consistent approach.

During the visit they met with school staff, parents and carers, governors and pupils and were pleased to find that the school provides a high level of protection for users of digital technologies.

“Learners trust the staff to have their best interests and believe staff know and understand how best to support them no matter the circumstance” commented the assessor, adding: “learners were very clear in their view that the school provides them with excellent online safety provision, to ensure that they can be safe, responsible, and discerning users of digital technologies.”

SWGFL is a not for profit charity ensuring everyone can benefit from technology free from harm and make up a third of the UK Safer Internet Centre.

Following this visit Ysgol Bro Gwaun were awarded the Online Safety Mark and are currently the only secondary school in Wales to actively hold this prestigious award.

Headteacher Paul Edwards, said: “To achieve the 360-degree online safety mark is a fantastic achievement and signifies the importance the school places on protecting our young people as they navigate the digital world.

“We are very excited to announce that we achieved this safety mark and congratulations to the team who worked so hard to ensure that YBG is the only active secondary school in Wales to hold this award.”

Ron Richards, Lead Assessor congratulated the school on its success. He added that it was re-assuring to know that the school had put a lot of thought and effort into improving the online safety of the staff and young people, by addressing important safeguarding issues.

Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, Cllr Guy Woodham, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for the school and an important factor in ensuring the online safety of all those at Ysgol Bro Gwaun.”

Mae gan Ysgol Bro Gwaun “ymagwedd glir a chyson ac mae pawb yn gyfrifol am ddiogelwch ar-lein”, gan arwain at ddyfarnu gwobr fawreddog y Marc Diogelwch Ar‑lein.

Ymwelodd aseswr SWGfL (Grid Dysgu’r De-orllewin) ag Ysgol Bro Gwaun yn gynharach eleni i adolygu darpariaeth diogelwch ar-lein yr ysgol ac fe amlygodd ymagwedd glir a chyson yr ysgol.

Yn ystod yr ymweliad, cyfarfu â staff yr ysgol, rheini a gofalwyr, llywodraethwyr a disgyblion ac roedd yn falch o weld bod yr ysgol yn cynnig lefel uchel o amddiffyniad i ddefnyddwyr technolegau digidol.

“Mae dysgwyr yn ymddiried yn y staff i weithredu er eu lles pennaf ac yn credu bod staff yn gwybod ac yn deall y ffordd orau i’w cefnogi, beth bynnag fo’r amgylchiadau” dywedodd yr aseswr, gan ychwanegu: “roedd dysgwyr yn glir iawn eu barn bod yr ysgol yn cynnig darpariaeth ddiogelwch ar-lein wych iddynt er mwyn sicrhau y gallant fod yn ddefnyddwyr diogel, cyfrifol a chraff o dechnolegau digidol.”

Mae SWGFL yn elusen nid er elw sy’n sicrhau bod pawb yn gallu elwa ar dechnoleg yn rhydd rhag niwed ac mae’n cyfrif am draean o Ganolfan Rhyngrwyd Mwy Diogel y DU.

Yn dilyn yr ymweliad, dyfarnwyd y Marc Diogelwch Ar-lein i Ysgol Bro Gwaun ac, ar hyn o bryd, dyma’r unig ysgol uwchradd yng Nghymru sydd â’r wobr fawreddog hon.

Dywedodd y pennaeth, Paul Edwards: “Mae cyflawni’r nod diogelwch ar-lein 360‑gradd yn gyflawniad gwych ac mae’n arwydd o’r pwysigrwydd y mae’r ysgol yn ei roi ar amddiffyn ein pobl ifanc wrth iddynt lywio’r byd digidol.

“Rydym yn gyffrous iawn i gyhoeddi ein bod wedi cyflawni’r nod diogelwch hwn a llongyfarchiadau i’r tîm a weithiodd mor galed i sicrhau mai YBG yw’r unig ysgol uwchradd yng Nghymru sydd â’r wobr hon.”

Llongyfarchodd Ron Richards, Aseswr Arweiniol yr ysgol ar ei llwyddiant. Ychwanegodd ei fod yn galonogol gwybod bod yr ysgol wedi rhoi llawer o ystyriaeth ac ymdrech i wella diogelwch ar-lein staff a phobl ifanc, trwy fynd i’r afael â materion diogelu pwysig.

Dywedodd yr Aelod Cabinet dros Addysg a’r Gymraeg, y Cynghorydd Guy Woodham: “Mae hwn yn gyflawniad gwych i’r ysgol ac yn ffactor pwysig wrth sicrhau diogelwch ar-lein pawb yn Ysgol Bro Gwaun.”