context | aims of policy | risk assessment | access | security | learning | e-mail | publishing | safety | complaints | staff/students/parents | references

The City School believes that the educational benefits of Internet access far outweigh the possible risks and that good planning and management will ensure appropriate and effective student and community use.

Context

Government policy is to connect all schools to the Internet by 2002, an objective that was achieved at The City School by the end of 1997. The Internet can be used by students of all ages, by teachers and non-teaching staff, parents and members of the community. Home Internet use is increasing and it is becoming an important part of learning and communication during leisure time.

However, the Internet is managed by a worldwide collaboration of independent agencies and serves mainly an adult audience. Without appropriate measures, access to unsuitable materials would be possible and security compromised. Our Internet Access Policy is designed to help ensure that Internet use supports the school's educational aims, and that we meet our responsibilities to students.

The purpose of Internet access in school is to raise educational standards, to support the professional work of staff and to enhance the school's management information and business administration systems.

These benefits include access to world-wide:

• Educational resources including museums and art galleries;
• Inclusion in government initiatives such as National Grid for Learning (NGfL) and the Virtual Teacher Centre (VTC);
• Information and cultural exchanges between students world-wide;
• News and current events;
• Cultural, social and leisure use in libraries, clubs and at home;
• Discussion with experts in many fields for students and staff;
• Staff professional development - access to educational materials and good curriculum practice;
• Communication with the advisory and support services, professional associations and colleagues;
• Exchange of curriculum and administration data with the LEA and DfEE.

Access to the Internet is a necessary tool for staff and an entitlement for students who show a responsible and mature approach. It should be noted that the use of a computer system without permission or for a purpose not agreed by the school could constitute a criminal offence under the Computer Misuse Act 1990.

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Aims of Policy

• To ensure that students, staff and others who use the school's facilities to access the Internet do so responsibly and appropriately
• To encourage greater use of the Internet to support teaching and learning, self-supported study, on-line and distance learning.

Policy into practice

1. Assessment of risks
In common with other media such as magazines, books and video, some material available via the Internet is unsuitable for students. The school will supervise students and take all reasonable precautions to ensure that users access only appropriate material. However, due to the international scale and linked nature of information available via the Internet, it is not possible to guarantee that particular types of material will never appear on a computer terminal. The school cannot accept liability for the material accessed, or any consequences thereof. In addition

• The school will continue to use a 'filtered' Internet access for students provided by Sheffield LEA.
• Methods to quantify and minimise the risk will be regularly reviewed;
• Staff, parents, and governors will work to establish agreement that every reasonable measure is being taken;
• The Headteacher, through the Director of ICT and the ICT Steering Group, will ensure that the policy is implemented effectively.

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2. Authorisation of Internet access

Internet access is considered to be increasingly a necessary part of planned teaching and learning. It is an entitlement for students based on responsible use. As well as whole class use of the Internet, students will be encouraged to use the Internet for research and personal work. Students will be able to access the Internet from any of the computers linked to the curriculum network. In addition

• Parents will be informed that students will be provided with supervised Internet access where it is important to their education (see sample letter);
• Parents will be asked to sign and return a permission form;
• Students undertaking personal study will be required to apply for Internet access individually, by signing the Acceptable Use Policy, countersigned by a parent or staff sponsor;
• A record will be maintained of all staff and students with Internet access. Staff and students will be removed from the record when access is no longer required.

3. Maintenance of ICT security

The Director of ICT and the Network Manager will ensure that the system has the capacity to take increased traffic caused by Internet use. They will also be responsible for the security of the whole system and ensure it is reviewed with regard to threats to security from Internet access. In addition:

• Personal data sent over the Internet will be encrypted or otherwise secured;
• Virus protection will be installed and updated regularly;
• Personal floppy disks may not be brought into school without specific permission and a virus check;
• Use of E-mail to send attachments will not be permitted.

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4. Measures to ensure Internet use provides effective learning

Internet access will be planned to enrich and extend learning activities as an integrated aspect of the curriculum.

• Students will be given clear objectives for Internet use;
• Students will be provided with lists of relevant and suitable Web sites;
• Students will be educated in taking responsibility for Internet access;
• Students will be informed that checks can be made on files held on the system;
• Students using the Internet will be supervised appropriately;

5. Teaching appropriate and responsible Internet use

Students will be taught how to access and search the Internet, and how to validate information before accepting it as true. In addition:

• When copying materials from the Web, students will observe copyright;
• Students will be made aware that the writer of an E-mail or the author of a Web page may not be the person claimed;
• Students will be taught to expect a wider range of content, both in level and in audience, than is found in the school library or on TV;
• Students will be encouraged to tell a teacher immediately if they encounter any material that makes them feel uncomfortable.

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6. Managing electronic mail (e-mail)

Students are expected to use E-mail as part of the ICT curriculum and through the National Grid for Learning Initiative.

• Communications with persons and organisations will be managed to ensure appropriate educational use and that the good name of the school is maintained;
• The forwarding of chain letters will be banned;
• Students may send E-mail as part of planned lessons. However, individual e-mail accounts will not contain student names and all students will be asked to sign the Acceptable Use Statement;
• In-coming E-mail will be regarded as public. All received E-mail will be printed and pinned to a notice board for collection by students;
• E-mail messages on school business (eg. arranging a work placement) must be approved before sending by the member of staff managing the activity.

7. Managing publishing on the World Wide Web

The Director of ICT will take editorial responsibility to ensure that content to be published on the Web is accurate and the quality of presentation is of a good standard. All students' work will be published via the school's Web site and will comply with the school's guidelines for publications. Students will be taught to publish for a wide range of audiences that might include governors, parents or young children. In addition

• All material must be the author's own work, credit other work included and state clearly the author's identity or status;
• The point of contact on the Web site will be the school address and telephone number. Home information or individual E-mail identities will not be published;
• Photographs of identifiable individual students will not be published on the Web site. Group photographs will not have a name list attached.

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8. Procedures to ensure Internet access is appropriate and safe

ICT staff and Domain ICT representatives will check that the sites selected for student use are appropriate to the age and maturity of students. Senior staff will monitor the effectiveness of Internet access strategies and ensure that occasional checks are made on files to monitor compliance with the school's Internet Access Policy. In addition

• A range of fully tested, approved sites will be copied to the school intranet;
• If staff require non-filtered Internet access, a separate system will be provided.

9. Management of complaints

Responsibility for handling incidents will be given to a member of the Senior Management Team. Students and parents will be informed of the procedure. In addition

• The Director of ICT and/or a member of the Senior Management Team will see students who do not observe the Internet Use Statement. If appropriate, parents or carers will be informed;
• A student may have Internet or computer access denied for a period;
• Denial of access could include all school work held on the system, including any examination work;
• Depending on the nature of the abuse of the system and procedures, there may be occasions when the police must be contacted. Early contact will be made to establish the legal position and discuss strategies;
• If staff or students discover unsuitable sites, the URL (address) and content will be reported to the Internet Service Provider;
• Any material that the school suspect is illegal will be referred to the Internet Watch Foundation (see appendix);

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10. Procedures for informing staff and students about Internet use

The Acceptable Use Statement or Rules for Responsible Internet Use will be posted in each computer room and near other networked computers. All staff including teachers, supply staff, classroom assistants and support staff, will be provided with the Internet Access Policy, and its importance explained. In addition

• Parents' attention will be drawn to the Policy in the hone-school agreement, newsletters, the school brochure and on the school Web site;
• A module on responsible Internet use will be included in the Y7 and KS4 ICT schemes of work covering both school and home use.

11. Enlisting parental support

A careful balance between informing and alarming parents will be maintained. Demonstrations and practical ICT sessions for parents will be organised to encourage a partnership approach. In addition

• Joint home / school guidelines on issues such as safe Internet use will be established;
• Suitable educational and leisure activities for responsible use of the Internet will be developed with parents;
• A stock of relevant leaflets from organisations such as BECTa, PIN, and NCH Action for Children will be maintained.

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References