Samuel Pepys School

SAMUEL PEPYS SCHOOL

 

 

Acceptable Use and Internet Policy

This policy has been agreed by the staff and governors of the school.  A copy has been sent home to parents

Aims

1. To allow all users to access and use the Internet for educational purposes. This can include: E-Mail and World Wide Web facilities.
The school activities can cover: Individual research /preparation of lessons/project work/homework assignments /communicating with other teachers and  students.

2. Provide a mechanism by which staff and students are protected from sites, information, and individuals which would undermine the principles and aims of the school.

3. Provide rules which are consistent, and in agreement  with the Data Protection Act.

4. Provide rules which are consistent with the acceptable procedures commonly used on the Internet, including those associated with netiquette.

 

The Acceptable Use Policy

1. Do not disclose any password or login name to anyone, other than the persons responsible for running and maintaining the system.

2. Do not give personal addresses, telephone / fax numbers of

(i) any adult working at the school,
(ii) any students at the school.

Use of names of students, or photographs of students will require written permission from carers/parents This is recorded on the General Information Form
3. Do not download, use or upload any material and use material which is copyright. Always seek permission from the owner, before using any material from the Internet. If in doubt, or you cannot obtain permission, do not use the material

4. Under no circumstances should you view, upload or download any material which is likely to be unsuitable for children. This applies to any material of a violent, dangerous or inappropriate sexual content.

5. Always respect the privacy of files of other users. Do not enter the file areas of other staff without their express permission.

6. Be polite and appreciate that other users might have different views than your own.  The use of strong language, swearing or aggressive behaviour is not allowed.  Do not state anything which could be interpreted as libel.

7. Ensure that all students are subject to suitable monitoring, as risk assessed by the class teacher.

8. Ensure that all students have followed the correct procedures:
(i) before starting the session,
(ii) during each session, and
(iii)  on completion of the session.

9.  Report any incident which breaches the Acceptable Rules Policy immediately to the Deputy or Headteacher

Websites – Names should not be attached to photographs; the school website should not include close up photographs of students and individual identities should be protected, e.g.: from an angle, in profile or with parental permission (from general information forms)

11. Chatrooms and online games – Do not use public chatrooms as personal information given by children could be traced and lead to contact.  Chatrooms which allow teaches to set up secure chat sessions eg: Starz can be controlled and are acceptable to use.

12. Social networking eg: Bebo, MySpace, Facebook can bring users into contact with ‘friends of friends’ ie. strangers.  Staff and students should not use such sites in school or for staff to contact students at any time.

13. Guidance on staff use of email is that personal emails should not be used for school business, eg: to communicate with pupils, parents or third parties such as suppliers of school equipment. For this reason auto forwarding of email to external accounts is disabled. It is recommended that school emails should be used for school business as unregulated communication can put individual staff members and the school at risk of prosecution. Staff and governors should be aware of the risks posed by forwarding any mail externally.

Written with reference to ‘Guidance to educational establishments on Child Protection and the use of the Internet’ – January 2008 and Guidance to Schools on Staff Use of Email, Sept ‘09.

Evaluation

The governing body will monitor the policy in line with their rolling programme of work.

Approved by  …………………. Date: ………………………