Web Filtering Standards

Overview

The key aim of the web filtering standards outlined on this page is that they will enable access to websites that support the effective delivery of teaching and learning in schools.

A common set of agreed standards for internet access provides the tools for schools to make informed choices over filtered provision whether delivered by the local authority or another provider.

It is critical that filtering standards are fit for purpose for 21^st century teaching and learning, allowing the access schools require whilst still safeguarding children and young people.

The standards will provide learners with the opportunity to learn within a safe, responsible and supportive environment and prevent access to inappropriate content. An effective online safety programme of education should supplement this guidance to teach children and young people the importance of responsible and considerate online behaviours.

Special schools and pupil referral units should adopt the suggested categories based on the abilities of their learners rather than that of their chronological age as appropriate.

The standards are updated from 2018 in conjunction with Smoothwall and the Technical Standardisation Group.

Adult

Used in conjunction with search term filtering to help prevent pornographic web searches.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Blocked
Content which is primarily adult in nature, content such as bad language or adult jokes, but not Pornography.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Blocked
Domains and URLs that provide dating and companionship services.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Blocked
A list of inappropriate and vulgar phrases. (Will only match search queries).
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites providing gambling and gambling related services such as Casino's or betting on events.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Blocked
Sites which describe or display gory content.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Blocked
Sites that contain nudist pictures and/or promote a nudist lifestyle.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Blocked
Sites containing nudity that is not pornographic, such as artistic nudity.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Blocked
Sites dedicated to pornographic content, whether audio, visual, or textual.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Blocked
Sites which contain pictures of intimate, alluring, or revealing attire, or other types of suggestive clothing such as lingerie and swimsuits.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Content based primarily on sexuality which may be unsuitable for younger audiences.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content

Education, finance and business

Sites of schools, universities, colleges, and other learning centres.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Allow
Key Stage 3: Allow
GCSE and Post-16: Allow
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Allow
Sites for businesses and commercial organisations, where the organisation provides paid for goods or services.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Charity and non-profit organisations.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites which discuss, or provide the ability to buy, sell, or exchange cryptocurrencies.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Blocked
Sites that provide materials and information that aid in learning.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Allow
Key Stage 3: Allow
GCSE and Post-16: Allow
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Allow
Finance sites including investment advice, but not Online Banking portals.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Government websites and websites related to governmental organisations.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Allow
Sites providing online banking access, or online credit card management.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites offering paid help and/or pre-written homework material for students.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites belonging to a political party or wholly political based sites.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites that discuss, promote, market, and provide information on renting, buying, or selling real estate or properties.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites where the main theme or content is religion.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites which provide translation services, such as blocks of text, or providing entire site translation.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content

Entertainment and social media

Advert servers and advert URLs.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Blocked
Sites providing audio or video downloading or streaming.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites hosting blog content of any kind.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites relating to any celebrity media, fan sites, or news.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites related to computer games, but not in-browser playable games.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites related to computing such as programming languages or technology related news.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites dedicated to discussion forums, such as phpBB.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites that offer online file storage services on remote servers for backup or exchange purposes.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Graphic novels, Manga, and other illustrated works, excluding anything that is pornographic.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites which provide image hosting services that are vetted or controlled with a conditions of use policy or moderated by humans.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites which provide image hosting services that potentially include pornographic or otherwise offensive content.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Blocked
Sites which contain messenger clients and web-based messaging sites, as well as any form of Voice over IP based chat service.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites dedicated to humour, including jokes, videos, amusing images, and satire.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites selling, reviewing, or discussing magazine content, whether printed or online.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Block
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites which provide geographical mapping services including those that promote or provide opportunity for travel planning.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Movies sites, reviews, and discussions.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites that promote, exhibit, and/or display works of art or objects of historical and cultural significance.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Allow
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Allow
Sites that discuss, promote, market, or distribute music, including fan sites, lyrics sites, playlist sites, artist and musical subjects' sites.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites whose primary aim is to present local, national, or international news, or news relating to a specific topic.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Online auction sites where auction style sales are carried out.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites providing games which can be played in a web browser.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Blocked
Sites where purchases can be made of any kind.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Peer-to-peer networking sites used to download or stream content.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Blocked
Non-news related radio and television, including radio streaming sites.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Automatic search suggestions provided by search engines such as Google, Bing, or YouTube.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Social networking sites.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Domains used to download software updates.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites discussing or promoting any sport, including sports team homepages.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Unproductive sites popular with children.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Information or booking sites related to transportation such as trains, taxis, or airlines.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites which provide URL shortening and forwarding.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites relating to travel and holidays.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites which advertise, promote, discuss, or offer information on vehicles and automobiles.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites dedicated to email/webmail.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites providing web search functionality.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content

Health and well-being

Sites which refer to abortion, including “pro-life” and “pro-choice”.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Block
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites pertaining to the use, sale, production, and promotion of alcoholic drinks and tobacco (including e-cigarettes).
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites which promote, sell, advertise, or discuss any body modifications such as piercing and tattoos.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites pertaining to the sale, manufacture, promotion, or use of recreational and prescription drugs.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Blocked
Sites containing content about health and medical matters.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Scan for inappropriate content
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites relating to self-harm, suicide, and eating disorders.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Blocked
Educational sites relating to sexual activity including reproduction, contraception, and safe sex.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Block
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Allow
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Allow

Illegal, violent or harmful content

Child abuse keywords contributed by the Internet Watch Foundation.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Blocked
Sites providing either instruction or tools which facilitate illegal activity, such as lock picking, fake IDs, and fraud.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Blocked
Sites which the main theme of hacking or cracking, regardless of “white-hat” or “black-hat”.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Blocked
Sites relating to or promoting intolerance of any kind.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Blocked
Sites hosting viruses, malware, adware, spyware, or trojans.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Blocked
Sites containing pirated copyrighted material for illegal download or streaming.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Blocked
Sites provided by the Office of Security and Counter-Terrorism branch of the UK Home Office, containing pro-terrorism material.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Blocked
Sites dedicated to violence, whether this through sport or bullying.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Blocked
Hunting and target shooting weapons.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Block
Key Stage 3: Block
GCSE and Post-16: Block
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites describing weapons of war, including those in a historical context.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Block
Key Stage 3: Scan for inappropriate content
GCSE and Post-16: Scan for inappropriate content
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Scan for inappropriate content
Sites describing maintenance or manufacture of weapons, including firearms, blades, explosives, and incendiaries.
Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2: Blocked
Key Stage 3: Blocked
GCSE and Post-16: Blocked
Teachers and non-teaching staff: Blocked

Document

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Web filtering

Overview

Adult

Adult entertainers

Adult sites

Dating and companionship sites

Inappropriate and vulgar search terms

Gambling

Gore

Naturism and nudism

Non pornographic Nudity

Pornography

Provocative Images

Sexuality sites

Education, finance and business

Academic Institutions

Business and Corporate

Charity and Non-Profit

Cryptocurrency

Education and reference

Financial Services

Government

Online Banking

Plagiarism

Politics

Real estate and property

Religion

Translation

Entertainment and social media

Adverts

Audio and video

Blogs

Celebrity

Computer games

Computing

Discussion forums

File hosting

Graphic novels

Image hosting: moderated

Image hosting: unmoderated

Instant Messaging, VoIP, and web conferencing

Jokes and humour

Magazines

Mapping

Movies and film

Museums and art galleries

Music

News

Online auctions

Online games

Online shopping

Peer-to-peer Networking

Radio and TV

Search suggestions

Social networking sites

Software updates

Sport

Time wasting

Travel and transport services

URL shortening

Vacations

Vehicles and motoring

Webmail

Web search

Health and well-being

Abortion

Alcohol and tobacco

Body piercing and tattoos

Drugs

Medical information

Self-harm

Sex education

Illegal, violent or harmful content

Child abuse

Criminal activity

Hacking

Intolerance

Malware and phishing

Piracy and copyright infringement

Terrorism