Refract is a youth-led initiative based in the West Midlands, dedicated to ensuring that digital skills are accessible to everyone. We aim to focus on building confidence in navigating the digital landscape — from basic smartphone skills to online safety and artificial intelligence.
+ Empowering young people
+ Data-driven change
+ A more inclusive future
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# The Digital Divide
-Digital literacy shouldn't be a luxury - it is essential for everyday life. Whether applying for jobs, staying connected or accessing vital services, everyone deserves the skills to navigate our digital world safely, effectively and responsibly.
+Digital literacy isn't a luxury — it's essential for everyday life. Whether applying for jobs, staying connected or accessing vital services, everyone deserves the skills to navigate our digital world safely, effectively and responsibly.
-Without digital skills, millions are locked out of opportunities, independence and inclusion. The gap isn't just about technology - it's about the people.
+Without digital skills, millions are locked out of opportunities, independence and inclusion. These aren't just statistics — they're our neighbours, friends and family.
-We're not just looking at statistics here - these are our neighbours, friends and family and members of the community.
+And the appetite is there — **59% of students** want to learn digital literacy at school.
-# Bridging the Gap
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-Refract is a youth-led initiative dedicated to making essential digital skills accessible to everyone in the West Midlands. We want to provide hands-on training and support that meets people where they are, regardless of background.
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1 in 3
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young people aged 11–18 have shared personal information with strangers online.
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+# What our first Census found
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+Our first Census pilot surveyed 261 students at Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy — here's what the data shows.
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students took part in our first Census pilot, across Years 7–9.
-From basic smartphone skills to online safety and artificial intelligence, we want to help our community and build the confidence needed to navigate today's technology.
+Device access is uneven too — 96% of students have a smartphone outside school, but only 63% have a desktop computer outside school and 16% have no laptop at all. Read the [full OSCA Census report](/assets/OSCA%20Student%20Census%20Report%202526.pdf) or [find out more about Census](/our-work/census).
# Explore Our Programmes
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# Our Partners
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{% for partner in site.data.partners %}
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{% endfor %}
diff --git a/our-work/campfire.md b/our-work/campfire.md
index 37c52ed..9502e64 100644
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---
title: Campfire
layout: programme
-hero_overlay: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5)
hero_position_y: -40vh
hero_date: Saturday 28th February 2026
hero_loc: Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy
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# Our Partners
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{% for partner in site.data.campfire_partners %}
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{% endfor %}
diff --git a/our-work/census.md b/our-work/census.md
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The objective is to identify patterns in digital literacy and highlight where additional investment may be needed within individual institutions and across the region.
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How we measure digital literacy
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The Digital Literacy Score
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+ Every survey response helps to produce an average Digital Literacy Score (DLS) — a single number from 0 to 100. The DLS is the average of four equally weighted index scores — Access, Confidence, Safety and Development — each capturing a different dimension of digital life.
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+ One number from 0 to 100 — the higher the score, the higher the digital literacy.
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+ DAI
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Digital Access
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Access to devices, connectivity and the internet.
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+ DCI
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Digital Confidence
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Comfort and self-efficacy using digital tools.
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+ DSI
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Digital Safety
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Awareness of online risks and safe behaviour.
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+ DDI
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Digital Development
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Skills, learning and ongoing digital growth.
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+# Inside the survey
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+The survey takes around **5–7 minutes** to complete, with no right or wrong answers. Demographics questions are optional — students can answer **"Prefer not to say"**. Sections 2–5 feed directly into the four Digital Literacy indices.
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+ Section 1
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About You
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A few short demographic questions, so every background is equally represented.
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What school year group are you in?
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What is your gender identity?
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What is your ethnicity?
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Do you receive free school meals or pupil premium?
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+ Section 2
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Digital Access
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Devices and connectivity outside of school.
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Feeds the Digital Access Index
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Which devices can you regularly use outside of school?
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Do you have internet access outside of school?
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Where do you have reliable internet access?
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Digital Confidence
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Self-rated confidence from 1–5 stars across everyday digital scenarios.
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Feeds the Digital Confidence Index
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How confident are you using a computer for everyday tasks?
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How confident are you spotting fake websites, scams, or phishing messages?
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How confident are you using AI tools safely and checking if their answers are accurate?
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+ Section 4
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Digital Safety
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Yes / No / Unsure statements about recognising and dealing with online risks.
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Feeds the Digital Safety Index
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I can identify a scam email or message.
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I know how to stay safe online and deal with security problems.
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I feel safe when using the internet.
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Digital Development
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Where students learn digital skills, and what would help them develop further.
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Feeds the Digital Development Index
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Where do you usually learn digital skills?
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What would help you most to improve your digital skills?
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Have you been taught about staying safe online?
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+ Section 6
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Artificial Intelligence
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How students use AI tools, and whether they feel AI helps or harms their learning.
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Do you use AI tools?
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Have you been taught how to use AI safely, effectively and responsibly?
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Overall, do AI tools help or harm your learning?
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Open Feedback
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Optional free-text questions for students to share challenges and ideas.
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What challenges do you face when using technology or the internet?
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How could schools or organisations support you to improve your digital skills or access to technology?
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+# What we found
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+The first pilot ran with **261 students** across Years 7–9 at Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy. Headline findings:
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90%
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of students use AI tools — regularly or sometimes.
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63%
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have been taught to use AI safely, effectively and responsibly.
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75%
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feel safe when using the internet.
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36%
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have clicked on something online that later felt unsafe or suspicious.
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96%
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have a smartphone outside school.
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76%
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of students learn digital skills at school.
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+Confidence varies by task — from 4.71 / 5 for using a smartphone to 3.28 / 5 for sending emails and attachments. Device access is uneven too: just two-thirds of students have a desktop computer outside school, and one in six have no laptop at all. The [full OSCA Census report](/assets/OSCA%20Student%20Census%20Report%202526.pdf) covers access, confidence, online safety and AI in detail.
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# Why this matters
Digital skills are now vital for learning, communication and work, however levels of confidence and access vary across the region.
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-- A clear picture of staff or student digital confidence
-- An insight into online safety awareness
-- Data to support digital strategy and intervention
+Census turns anonymous, aggregated responses into the evidence schools need to plan their digital strategy.
All responses are anonymous and we report in an aggregated form.
-# How it works
+# How does Census work?
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School registration
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Schools express interest in participation and nominate a staff contact. If the school runs a student digital leadership programme, a student representative can be nominated too. The school decides where the survey is targeted — such as running staff and student surveys, student-only surveys, or focusing on particular year groups.
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Survey distribution
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Refract creates a secure survey link for students to complete during tutor time, IT lessons, or in their own time at home. If the staff survey is opted into, staff access a specific form they can complete in their own time.
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Data collection
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Responses are analysed to identify trends and key findings, displayed in a data-rich dashboard.
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Reporting
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Participating schools receive a summary report containing key statistics, trends and observations, suggested focus areas, and visual charts — plus a dashboard to view raw and filtered data.
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Renew
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Following a successful Census, schools are invited to renew, distributing the survey every one to two academic years. This captures data on new intake and lets digital strategy improvements be measured.
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+# What schools receive
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+Every participating school gets a summary report and access to a data-rich dashboard containing:
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+- **Key statistics** — a clear picture of digital access, confidence, safety and development across the school
+- **Trends and observations** — patterns identified from the responses
+- **Suggested focus areas** — where additional investment or support may be needed
+- **Visual charts** — accessible overviews for staff, governors and leadership teams
+- **A data dashboard** — raw and filtered data for deeper exploration
-1. A short survey is completed by students and staff during school time (5-10 minutes)
-2. Responses are analysed by Refract
-3. Schools receive a concise report with findings and insights
+The platform is branded to each school, so students and staff take part in a familiar, trusted environment.
# Getting involved
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