Internet Safety

Internet – Acceptable Use Policy

The aim of the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is to ensure that pupils will benefit from learning opportunities offered by the school’s Internet resources in a safe and effective manner.  Internet use and access is considered a school resource and privilege.  Therefore, if the school AUP is not adhered to this privilege will be withdrawn and apppropriate sanctions – as outline in the AUP – will be improsed.

Before signing, the AUP should be read carefullly to ensure that the conditions of use are accepted and understood.

School Strategy

The school will employ a number of strategies in order to maximise learning opportunities and risks associated with the Internet.  These strategies are as follows:

General

  • Internet sessions will always be supervised by a teacher.
  • Filtering software and/or equivalent systems will be used in order to minimise the risk of exposure to inappropriae material.
  • The school will regularly monitor pupils’ Internet usage.
  • Upoading and downloading of non-approved software will not be permitted.
  • Virus protection software will be used and updated on a regular basis.
  • The use of personal floppy disks or CD-ROMS in school necessitates a teacher’s permission.
  • Students will observe good “netiquette”(ie etiquette on the Internet) at all times and will not undertake any actions that may bring the school into disrepute.


World Wide Web

  • Students will not visit Internet sites that contain obscene, illegal, hateful or otherwise objectionable materials.
  • Students will use the Internet for educational purposes only.
  • Students will be familiar with copyright issues relating to online learning.
  • Students will never disclose or publicise personal information.
  • Students will be aware that any usage, including distributing or receiving information, school related or personal, may be monitored for unusual activity, security and/or network management reasons.
  • Students will not access chat rooms.


School Website

  • Pupils will be given the opportunity to publish projects, artwork or school work on the World Wide Web.
  • The publication of student work will be co-ordinated by a teacher.
  • Pupils’ work will appear in an educational context on Web pages with a copyright notice prohibiting the copying of such work without expxress written permission.
  • Digital photographs, audio or video clips of individual students will not be published on the school website.  Instead photographs, audio and visual clips will focus on group activities.  Video clips may be password protected.
  • Personal pupil information, including home address and contact details, will be omitted from school web pages.
  • Pupils will continue to own the copyright on any work published.


Legislation

The school will provide information on the following legislation relating to use of the Internet which teachers, students and parents should familiarise themselves with:

  • Data Protection (Amendment) Act 2003
  • Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998
  • Video Recordings Act 1989
  • The Data Protection Act 1988


Sanctions

Misuse of the Internet will result in disciplinary action, including withdrawal of access privileges and/or suspension and in extreme cases, expulsion.  The school also reserves the right to report any illegal activities to the appropriate authoritiites.