St Christopher’s School     
             Gibraltar
              BFPO 52
              Tel: 00 350 200 5 5550
              Fax: 00 350 200 5 5476
             Email:office.stchristophers@sceschools.com
              URL:www.stchristophersschool.com

Internet Policy

The Internet Access Policy has been written by a team with a wide range of experience and will be reviewed on a yearly basis.  It has been agreed by the senior management and approved by School Advisory Committee.

Created:	June 2009		By:	Mike Lawton I.C.T Co-ordinator
To be revised:	June 2010

Why is Internet access important?
Access to the Internet is a necessary tool for staff and pupils. 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.

What are the benefits to the school?
The Government has set targets for ICT use in all schools through the National Grid for Learning (NGfL) initiative.  A number of studies and government projects have indicated the benefits to be gained through the appropriate use of the Internet in education. 

These benefits include:
*Access to world-wide educational resources including museums and art
  galleries;
*Inclusion in government initiatives such as NGfL and the Virtual Teacher
  Centre;
*Information and cultural exchanges between students world-wide;
*Cultural, vocational, social and leisure use in libraries, clubs and at
  home;
*Discussion with experts in many fields for pupils 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 SCE and DfEE.

How will Internet access be authorised?
*Internet access is a necessary part of the statutory curriculum.  It is an
  entitlement for pupils based on responsible use;
*At Key Stage 1, the majority of the access to the Internet will be by
  teacher or adult demonstration. However there may be situations when
  children have supervised access to specific approved on-line materials;
*At Key Stage 2, Internet access will be granted to a whole class as part
  of the scheme of work, after a suitable education in responsible
  Internet use;
*Parents will be informed that pupils will be provided with supervised
  Internet access and asked to sign and return a permission form in order
  to do so

How will the risks be assessed?
*In common with other media such as magazines, books and video, some
  material available via the Internet is unsuitable for pupils.  The school
  will supervise pupils 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 computer. Neither the school nor SCE can accept
  liability for the material accessed, or any consequences thereof;
*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;
*Methods to identify, assess and minimise risks will be reviewed;
*Staff, parents, and advisers will work to establish agreement that every
  reasonable measure is being taken;
*The Headteacher will ensure that the policy is implemented effectively.

How will the school ensure Internet access is safe?
*Pupils will be informed that Internet use will be supervised and
  monitored;
*The school will work in partnership with parents, SCE, DfEE and the
  Internet Service Provider to ensure systems to protect pupils are
  reviewed and improved;
*Senior staff will ensure that occasional checks are made to ensure that
  the filtering methods selected are effective in practice;
*If staff or pupils discover unsuitable sites, the URL (address) and
  content will be reported to the Internet Service Provider via the ICT
  Manager;
*Any material that the school suspects is illegal will be referred to the
  Internet Watch Foundation

How will the security of school ICT systems be maintained?
*Security strategies will be discussed with SCE
*The ICT Manager will ensure that the system has the capacity to take
  increased traffic caused by Internet use;
*The security of the whole system will be reviewed with regard to
  threats to security from Internet access;
*Virus protection will be installed and updated regularly;
*Use of floppy disks / USB memory devices will be reviewed.  Personal
  floppy disks / USB memory devices may not be brought into school
  without specific permission and a virus check;

How will complaints regarding Internet use be handled?
*Responsibility for handling incidents will be given to senior members of
  staff;

How will staff and pupils be consulted?
*Rules for Internet access will be posted near computer systems.  The
  Acceptable Use Statement or Rules for Responsible Internet Use could
  be printed as posters;
*All staff including teachers, supply staff, classroom assistants and
  support staff, will be provided with the Internet Access Policy, and its
  importance explained;
*Parents' attention will be drawn to the Policy in newsletters, the school
  brochure and on the school Web site;

Responsible Internet Use                        

We use the school computers and Internet connection for learning. These rules will help us to be fair to others and keep everyone safe.

*I will ask permission before entering any Web site, unless my teacher has
  already approved this site
*I will not look at or delete other people’s files
*I will not bring floppy disks / USB memory devices into school without
  permission
*I will only e-mail people my teacher has approved
*The messages I send will be polite and sensible
*When sending e-mail, I will not give my home address or phone number, or
  arrange to meet someone
*I will ask permission before opening an e-mail or e-mail attachment sent by
  someone I do not know
*I will not use Internet chat rooms
*If I see anything I am unhappy with or I receive messages I do not like, I
  will tell a teacher immediately
*I know that my school may check my computer files and may monitor the
  Internet sites I visit
*I understand that if I deliberately break these rules, I could be stopped
  from using the Internet or computers

A note to parents:

The School recognises that under certain circumstances, the Internet can give children access to undesirable information and images. We have done all that is possible to ensure children are protected from such information through the use of security software and limiting features to provide as safe an environment as possible. The children are taught to use the facility sensibly and with proper consideration for others.

It is recommended that parents using the Internet at home with children, develop a similar set of rules and invest in appropriate security software e.g. Netnanny, Cyberpatrol or Surfwatch.

If you have any comment to make about these rules, or any suggestions for extra ones, please contact the school.

  St Christopher’s School      
      Gibraltar
       BFPO 52
      Tel: 00 350 200 5 5550
      Fax: 00 350 200 5 5476
       Email:office.stchristophers@sceschools.com
      URL:www.stchristophersschool.com

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Responsible Internet Use

As part of your child’s curriculum and the development of ICT skills, St Christopher’s is providing supervised access to the Internet. We believe that the use of the World Wide Web and e-mail is worthwhile and is an essential skill for children as they grow up in the modern world. Please would you read the attached Rules for Responsible Internet Use, and sign and return the consent form so that your child may use the Internet at School.

Although there have been concerns about pupils having access to undesirable materials, we are taking positive steps to deal with the risk in school. Our school operates a filtering system that restricts access to inappropriate materials. This may not be the case at home and we can provide references to information on safe Internet access if you wish.

Whilst every endeavour is made to ensure that suitable restrictions are placed on the ability of children to access inappropriate materials, the School cannot be held responsible for the nature or content of materials accessed through the Internet. The School will not be liable for any damages arising from your child’s use of the Internet facilities.

Should you wish to discuss any aspect of Internet use (or see a lesson in operation) please telephone me to arrange an appointment.

Yours Sincerely

Stephen Coventry
Headteacher

  St Christopher’s School        
            Gibraltar
            BFPO 52
            Tel: 00 350 200 5 5550
            Fax: 00 350 200 5 5476
            Email:office.stchristophers@sceschools.com
            URL:www.stchristophersschool.com

Please complete and return this form to the headteacher

Pupil

I have read and understand the school Rules for Responsible Internet Use. I will use the computer system and Internet in a responsible way and obey these rules at all times.

Pupil’s signature ____________________            Date: __/__/__

Parent

I have read and understood the school rules for responsible Internet use and give permission for my son / daughter to access the Internet. I understand that the school will take all reasonable precautions to ensure pupils cannot access inappropriate materials. I understand that the school cannot be held responsible for the nature or content of materials accessed through the Internet. I agree that the school is not liable for any damage arising from use of the Internet facilities.

Parent’s signature ___________________            Date: __/__/__

Pupil’s name ________________________           Date: __/__/__

Class _______________

_________________________________________________

Please delete as appropriate

I agree / disagree that if selected, my son/daughter’s work may be published on the school web-site. I also agree / disagee that photographs that include my son/daughter may be published subject to the school rules that photographs will not clearly identify individuals and that full names will not be used.

Parent’s signature ___________________            Date: __/__/__