Children at Flying High Academy, Mansfield, have developed their own e-safety mascot, which will be used to help them stay safe online.

The pupils were tasked with creating the mascots and teacher Will Burke, computing lead, said one of the various designs they made was chosen to be the mascot.

“We wanted the winning design to be something personal to the school and one which the children could relate to,” he said.

“This sense of ownership of the mascot will lead to increased engagement with e-safety.

“It is so important that the safety lessons associated with the mascot are known and understood by children, who are growing up in an ever-changing world and one where they must learn to operate safely online.”

The prize for the winning design was an Amazon Fire tablet and the newly adopted mascot, Appleon, designed by Year 4 pupil Marcelina Lamch, is now displayed in all classrooms at the academy.

“The winner was chosen for its design quality,” said Will.

“The mascot’s character can ‘catch’ sentences that should not be written online and has its own report and approve button in case something is inappropriate.”

Winner Marcelina said: “We came up with the idea of the name Appleon because it is an app and chameleon, and we combined the words.

“I felt really surprised and wasn’t expecting to win.

“I will probably use my new tablet to do my school work.”