Police to station PCSO at Oswestry secondary school

Community support officer Dave Bryant will be based at the Marches School, in Oswestry, where his range of duties will include delivering lessons to youngsters about keeping safe online.

Mr Bryant's other duties will include building relationships between the school, the police and the local community.

Chief Inspector Paul Moxley, of West Mercia Police, said: "As part of our safer neighbourhood commitments, we are really pleased to have this opportunity to provide a dedicated PCSO for the Marches School.

"It will make a real difference in helping us to work with young people in the community. Working with young people to help promote their safety and positive development within local communities is a priority for the police and our partner agencies.

"Having direct contact in school through the Safer Schools Partnership and by working closely with staff will help to build a good rapport based on trust and understanding."

Mr Bryant, who has been a police community support officer since 2003 and is the longest serving in Shropshire, will take up the role at the beginning of the autumn term. He is trained in internet safety and online protection.

He has experience of working in Shrewsbury and Wem. However, this will be his first post in Oswestry.

The Marches School, the county's first academy school, says the move is part of a programme developed from a successful project in American schools.

Governors say they want to build on the support services already available to pupils at the school.

In the school's most recent Ofsted report it was noted pupils "feel exceptionally safe and secure in school".

Governors say they want to ensure the pupils are fully aware of laws governing internet use and are equipped with the tools to remain safe online.

Alison Pearson, deputy headteacher at the school, said: "School is an extension of the neighbourhood and the presence of Mr Bryant within school is focused around ensuring our young people feel safe and secure, not only in school but in the wider community.

"The young are most at risk of being a victim of a crime and their time of greatest risk is beyond the school gates.

"The role of the PCSO will involve working with the local community team to develop these links.

"The project ultimately aims to support the raising of young people's standards of achievement and enable them to achieve their full potential in life."

Mr Bryant added: "I am looking forward to working with the Marches School and taking on this new and exciting role".

Meanwhile, police are being stationed in schools in London. The measure is being introduced by Scotland Yard in secondary schools in Southwark

Eventually all 19 state secondary schools in the borough will have a uniformed officer with an office in the building.

The officer will patrol both in and outside the grounds.