Setting Up a School Digital Safety Champions Programme
Peer-led digital safety programmes can be more effective than adult-led lessons alone. This guide shows you how to build one that works.
What digital leaders do
Digital safety champions — sometimes called e-safety ambassadors or digital leaders — are pupils who take an active role in promoting safe and responsible online behaviour across the school. Their role typically includes: raising awareness of online risks during assemblies, lessons, and form time; providing peer support to classmates who have experienced problems online; contributing to school policies or pupil voice groups on technology; and serving as a visible, approachable resource for younger pupils who may feel embarrassed speaking to an adult. Research consistently shows that peer-to-peer messaging on sensitive topics including online safety reaches young people more effectively than adult instruction alone. Digital leaders also benefit personally, developing confidence, communication skills, and a deeper understanding of digital citizenship.
Selecting and training students
Digital leaders do not need to be the most technically skilled pupils in the school. Look for students who are trusted by their peers, communicate well, and show genuine interest in helping others. Applications or nominations from form tutors can work well. Aim for a diverse group that reflects the school population — different year groups, genders, and backgrounds all strengthen the programme. Once selected, provide training that covers: the most common online risks pupils in your school face; how to have supportive conversations without taking on too much responsibility; clear referral pathways to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) when a situation requires adult involvement; and an understanding of the school's acceptable use policy. Organisations including Childnet, the UK Safer Internet Centre, and SWGfL offer free training resources for pupil digital leader programmes.
Running digital safety campaigns
Give digital leaders ownership of campaigns rather than simply delivering content prepared by adults. Effective campaigns might include: creating posters, videos, or social media content for the school's platforms during Safer Internet Day each February; running interactive activities during PSHE days or form time; hosting drop-in sessions where pupils can ask questions anonymously; creating year-group-specific resources for common issues such as gaming safety for Year 7, or social media privacy for Year 9. Tie campaigns to current events and trends — leaders will know what platforms and games their peers are actually using, which makes content far more relevant. Ensure leaders understand they should never manage a live safeguarding concern alone, and that clear escalation routes to the DSL are always in place.
Supporting younger pupils
One of the most valuable roles digital leaders can play is working with primary-age pupils, either within an all-through school or through transition links with feeder schools. Older pupils explaining concepts such as passwords, screen time, or talking to strangers online to Year 2 or Year 3 pupils can be highly effective — the age gap is small enough to feel relatable, but large enough to carry authority. Structured activities work best: pair leaders with a class and give them a simple, tested activity to run rather than open-ended time. This approach also builds skills in the digital leaders themselves and creates a pipeline of future champions as younger pupils progress through school.
Measuring impact
A programme without evaluation risks losing momentum and staff buy-in. Simple measurement approaches include: before-and-after surveys on pupil knowledge of online risks; tracking the number of online safety reports made to the DSL or school pastoral team over time; collecting pupil feedback on campaigns and assemblies; and asking digital leaders themselves to reflect on what they have learned. Share findings with governors, parents, and the wider school community — a programme that can demonstrate impact is easier to resource and sustain. Ofsted inspectors will also take note of strong pupil voice activity around online safety as evidence of an embedded whole-school approach to the online safety statutory guidance.
This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.
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