IT Acceptable Usage Policy

“IT – Acceptable Use Policy”

In accordance with the School’s Ethos and Policies, the aim of this Acceptable Use Policy 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 Therefore, if the school Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is not adhered to, then this privilege will be withdrawn and appropriate sanctions will be imposed.

It is envisaged that school and parent representatives will revise the AUP annually. Before signing, the AUP should be read carefully to ensure that the conditions of use are accepted and understood.

This version of the AUP was created on  _______________ (date)

By ___________________________________   _________________________________________

_____________________________________   _________________________________________

 (name of parties involved in drawing up the AUP)

School’s Strategy

The school employs a number of strategies in order to maximise learning opportunities and reduce 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 inappropriate material.
• The school will regularly monitor pupils’ Internet usage.
• Students and teachers will be provided with training in the area of Internet safety.
• Uploading 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, memory sticks, CD-ROMs, or other digital storage media in school requires the teacher’s permission and MUST be scanned before use by the schools Anti Virus software.
• Students while using the School’s IT facilities will treat others with respect at all times and will not undertake any actions that may bring the school into disrepute.
• Computer ‘logon’ password will not be divulged to others.
• Malicious Use/Vandalism:- Students will not attempt to modify settings, damage or hack into the school’s computers, network, Internet services or LAN. Doing so will constitute a serious breach of discipline.  Sending of Junk Mail or Spam is strictly prohibited.
• The school will provide students with network storage of school work.  However it is the responsibility of each student to ensure that they have a proper back-up of all important data.  While precautions are taken, disruptions and faults can and do occur, therefore the school cannot be held responsible for such interruptions or losses.
• Use of schools printing facilities must be utilized resourcefully and may ONLY be used with the teachers prior permission.

World Wide Web

• Students will not intentionally visit Internet sites that contain obscene, illegal, hateful or otherwise objectionable materials.
• Students will report accidental accessing of inappropriate materials in accordance with school procedures.
• Students will use the Internet for educational purposes only.
• Students will not copy information into assignments and fail to acknowledge the source (plagiarism and copyright infringement).
• Students will never disclose or publicise personal information.
• Downloading materials or images not relevant to their studies, is in direct breach of the school’s acceptable use policy.
• 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.
• Goods or services will not be purchased over the Internet including the downloading of music.
• Students may not try to circumvent the schools content filters in any way to access blocked sites.

Email

• Students will use approved class email accounts under supervision by or with permission from a teacher.
• Students will not send or receive any material that is illegal, obscene, defamatory or intended to annoy or intimidate another person.
• Students will not reveal their own or other people’s personal details, such as addresses or telephone numbers or pictures.
• Students will never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they only know through emails or the internet.
• Students will note that sending and receiving email attachments is subject to permission from their teacher.
• Students will only have access to chat rooms, discussion forums, messaging or other electronic communication forum that have been approved by the school.
• Chat rooms, discussion forums and other electronic communication forums will only be used for educational purposes and will always be supervised.
• Usernames will be used to avoid disclosure of identity.
• Face-to-face meetings with someone organised via Internet chat will be forbidden.

School Website

• Pupils will be given the opportunity to publish projects, artwork or school work on the World Wide Web in accordance with clear policies and approval processes regarding the content that can be loaded to the school’s website
• The website will be regularly checked to ensure that there is no content that compromises the safety of pupils or staff.
• Website using facilities such as guestbook, notice boards or weblogs will be checked frequently to ensure that they do not contain personal details?
• The publication of student work must be approved and co-ordinated by a teacher in the school.
• Pupils’ work will appear in an educational context on Web pages with a copyright notice prohibiting the copying of such work without express written permission.
• The school will endeavour to use digital photographs, audio or video clips focusing on group activities. Content focusing on individual students will not be published on the school website with out the parental permission. Video clips may be password protected.
• Personal pupil information including home address and contact details will be omitted from school web pages.
• The school website will avoid publishing the first name and last name of individuals in a photograph.
• The school will ensure that the image files are appropriately named – will not use pupils’ names in image file names or ALT tags if published on the web.
• Pupils will continue to own the copyright on any work published.

Personal Devices

Pupils using their own technology in school, such as leaving a mobile phone turned on or using it in class, sending nuisance text messages, or the unauthorized taking of images with a mobile phone camera, still or moving is in direct breach of the school’s acceptable use policy.

Laptop/Personal Computers

Permission by the Network Administrator must be granted to Teachers or Students wishing to use the school’s LAN.  They must ensure that both the Operating System and Anti Virus are operational and up to date.

Legislation

Teachers, students and parents should familiarise themselves with the following legislation relating to the use of the internet:-

Data Protection (Amendment) Act 2003	Copyright Act (1963) and as amended
Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998	Freedom of Information Act 1997
Interception Act 1993	Criminal Damage Act 1991
Video Recordings Act 1989Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989	The Data Protection Act 1988

Support Structures

The school will inform students and parents of key support structures and organisations that deal with illegal material or harmful use of the Internet.

Sanctions

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

• Documentation included:-

1. ‘Student IT’AUP Permission Form
2. IT Classroom Rules
3. Staff IT Policy
4. Teacher IT Responsibility Form
5. Safe Surfing – Recommended Guidelines to parents