Soham Village College
Foundation Technology & Languages College

Policy on Internet Access & Responsible Use of Computers 


Policy on Internet Access & Responsible Use of Computers 

The Internet Access Policy has been agreed by senior management and approved by governors and will be reviewed on a yearly basis.

Created: March 2001 by the ICT Strategy Group at Soham Village College
Last Revised: July 2007

Student use of ICT
Students should always seek permission from a member of staff before using a computer. In particular, students should only use the Internet when agreed with a member of staff. Any member of staff giving permission should then assume responsibility for supervision; this should be direct supervision wherever possible. Rules for students’ Responsible Use of Computers are displayed in every computer suite. Students must sign the Responsible Computer Use Agreement (see below) declaring that they have read and will abide by the rules before they are allocated an account on the system.

Staff Use of ICT
All staff have free access to ICT facilities, but must read and agree to follow the Acceptable ICT Use Statement by signing a declaration form.

Teacher Computers
The ‘teacher’ computer (or laptop) in each classroom will not normally be used by students, but there may be occasions where staff wish to allow a student to use the ‘teacher’ computer. It is therefore important that teachers do not save confidential documents to the C:Drive. Provided that students logon under their own username, there are no other risks involved. The only exception to this is in some ICT suites where the teacher computer also acts as printer server. These computers will be clearly marked ‘not for student use’.

Publishing on the Web
Web authoring is done by the webmaster in consultation with staff. All material must be the author’s own work, or where permission to reproduce has been obtained, clearly marked with the copyright owner’s name. Photographs must not identify individuals. Group shots or pictures taken over the shoulder will be used in preference to individual “passport” style images. Full names of students will not be used anywhere on the website, particularly alongside photographs. Parents will be given opportunity to request that photographs of their children should not be published on the school website. Home information or individual e-mail identities will not be published.

Risk Assessment
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 unsuitable material will never appear on a terminal. Neither the College nor the Governing Body can accept liability for the material accessed, or any consequences thereof.
Methods to identify, assess and minimise risks will be reviewed annually. Staff, parents and governors will work to establish agreement that every reasonable measure is being taken. The Principal will ensure that the policy is implemented effectively.
If staff or students discover unsuitable sites, the URL (address) and content will be reported to the Internet Service Provider via the ICT co-ordinator. Any material that the school suspects is illegal will be referred to the Internet Watch Foundation.
Where minority languages are involved, appropriate measures will be used to ensure the process to select appropriate material is adequate.
Personal data sent over the Internet will be encrypted or otherwise secured.
Virus protection will be installed and updated regularly.
Instances of Misuse of ICT
Responsibility for handling instances of misuse will be given to the ICT Coordinator who may refer serious issues to senior members of staff. Sanctions will include interview/counselling by a member of staff and, if appropriate, informing parents or carers. A student may have computer access denied for a period of time depending on the nature of the incident. Denial of access could include all schoolwork held on the system, including any examination work. There may be occasions when the police must be contacted. The use of computer systems without permission or for purposes not agreed by the school could constitute a criminal offence under the Computer Misuse Act 1990.

Communicating
Rules for Responsible Internet Use will be posted near computer systems. All staff including teachers, supply staff, classroom assistants and support staff, will be provided with the Acceptable Use of ICT Policy, and its importance explained. Joint home / school guidelines on issues such as safe Internet use will be established. Parents’ attention will be drawn to the Policy and guidelines in newsletters, the school brochure and on the school Website;
A module on responsible Internet use will be included in the ICT programme, covering both school and home use.

Community Use
Adult users will need to sign the Acceptable ICT Use Agreement. Parents/carers of children under 18 years of age will generally be required to sign an acceptable use policy on behalf of the child. Children under 8 years of age must be accompanied by an adult when accessing the Internet, due to the Children’s Act. Suitable educational, vocational and leisure use is encouraged in community facilities.

Rules for Responsible Computer Use

The school has installed computers and Internet access to help learning.
These rules will keep everyone safe and help us be fair to others.

  • I will use only my own login and password, which I will keep secret.
  • I will ask permission from a member of staff before using the computers.
  • I will ask permission from a member of staff before using the Internet.
  • I will not access other people’s files.
  • During lesson times, I will use the computers only for school work.
  • I understand that outside lesson times, those people wishing to do school work have priority access to computers.
  • I will not use the computer to play games.
  • I will not bring floppy disks, memory sticks or other portable media into College unless I have permission.
  • When I use the school learning platform, Moodle, I will only upload and download files which are relevant to my school work and I will use forums, chat rooms and other collaboration tools in a responsible way, notifying staff if I suspect inappropriate use by any other participant.
  • Whilst the use of mobile phones, and other digital devices such as MP3 players, remains strictly prohibited during the school day, there may be occasions where a member of staff invites students to use mobile technology for a specific educational purpose during a lesson. In this case, I understand that I must use mobiles responsibly and only for the agreed purpose.
  • I understand that any images obtained during a school activity, including off-site activities, are subject to the school policy on the use of digital images. In particular, I must not attempt to publish any such images on a website without consent.
  • I will only e-mail people whom a member of staff has approved.
  • The messages I send will be polite and sensible.
  • I will not give my home address or phone number, or those of my friends, or arrange to meet someone, unless my parent, carer or teacher has given permission.
  • To help protect other students and myself, I will not attempt to access Internet sites which carry unpleasant material and I will tell a member of staff if I see anything I am unhappy with or I receive messages I do not like.
  • I understand that the College may check my computer files and may monitor the Internet sites I visit.
  • I understand that permission to use the College computer system may be withdrawn if I break the rules for responsible computer use.

Students who wish to use the college computer and Internet facilities should read these rules with their parents and then complete the Acceptable Computer Use Agreement and return it to their form tutor.

Acceptable ICT Use Statement for Staff & Community Users

  • The computer system is owned by the College and is made available to staff and community users to further their education and to staff to enhance their professional activities including teaching, research, administration and management.  The College Internet Access Policy has been drawn up to protect all parties - the students, the staff and the College.

  • The school reserves the right to examine or delete any files, including e-mail, that may be held on its computer system or to monitor any Internet sites visited.

  • Access must only be made via the authorised account and password, which must not be made available to any other person.

  • All Internet use should be appropriate to staff professional activity or student’s education. 

  • Activity that threatens the integrity of the school ICT systems, or that attacks or corrupts other systems, is forbidden.

  • Sites and materials accessed must be appropriate to the work being undertaken.  Users will recognise materials that are inappropriate and should expect to have their access removed.

  • Users are responsible for e-mail they send and for contacts made that may result in e-mail being received.

  • The same professional levels of language and content should be applied as for letters or other media, particularly as e-mail is often forwarded.

  • Members of the College staff must follow the College e-mail protocol.

  • Posting anonymous messages and forwarding chain letters is forbidden.

  • Copyright of materials and intellectual property rights must be respected.

  • Legitimate private interests may be followed outside normal working time, providing school use is not compromised.

  • Use for personal financial gain, gambling, political purposes or advertising is forbidden.

  • The use of computer systems for purposes not agreed by the school could constitute a criminal offence under the Computer Misuse Act 1990.

Staff and community users requesting Internet access should read this statement before signing an Acceptable Internet Use Agreement form and returning it to the ICT Co-ordinator.