School monitoring and filtering systems guidance
The Department for Education should review and strengthen its guidance to schools on monitoring and filtering systems, including ensuring that the systems used are appropriate and adequate from a technical perspective. The department should ensure schools understand these requirements and consider whether inspections by Ofsted should play a greater role in monitoring compliance.
- The government stated the Department for Education expects to complete implementation in mid-2027, has proposed an update to Keeping Children Safe in Education for 2026-27 to strengthen the expectation of annual filtering checks, that from September 2027 confirmation of an annual check will form part of inspections, and that a consultation on a certification scheme will take place in 2026 (Government Response to Phase 1 of the Southport Inquiry, CP 1623, Home Office, July 2026).
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedThe Department for Education (DfE) is the lead department and expects to complete implementation of this recommendation in mid-2027. Progress and next steps:
- DfE has proposed an update to Keeping Children Safe in Education for the academic year 2026-27 to strengthen the expectation that education settings review and check filtering systems at least annually.
- From September 2027, confirmation that schools have completed an annual check will form part of inspections.
- A consultation on a certification scheme - to provide assurance to schools on filtering and monitoring products that align with the filtering and monitoring standards that DfE published in 2023 and references in Keeping Children Safe in Education - will take place this year (2026).
Progress Timeline
Government response published 2 July 2026 (CP 1623). The government accepted this recommendation; the lead department reports implementation is in progress.
Awaiting government response. Phase 1 report published 13 April 2026.