Perental Permission
As part of the school's Information and Communication Technology (ICT) programme we offer pupils supervised access to the Internet, the global network of computers you will have read about and seen on television. Use of the Internet is subject to acceptance and approval by both parents and pupils of school rules for Internet use, detailed in our Acceptable Use Policy (A.U.P.) below.
Access to the Internet will enable pupils to explore thousands of libraries, databases, and bulletin boards while exchanging messages with other Internet users throughout the world. Families should be warned that some material accessible via the Internet might contain items that are illegal, defamatory, inaccurate or potentially offensive to some people.
Whilst our aim for Internet use is to further educational goals and objectives, pupils may find ways to access other materials as well. We believe that the benefits to pupils from access to the Internet, in the form of information resources and opportunities for collaboration, exceed any disadvantages. But ultimately, parents and guardians of minors are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their children should follow when using media and information sources. To that end, the school supports and respects each family's right to decide whether or not to apply for access. Should you feel strongly that your child should not be allowed access to the Internet, please write to let us know as soon as possible. Pupils will be expected to make teachers aware, as necessary, if parental consent has been denied.
During school, teachers will guide pupils towards appropriate materials as set out in the school policy. Outside of school, families bear the same responsibility for such guidance as they exercise with information sources such as television, telephones, movies, radio and other potentially offensive material.
Please inform the school office if you do not wish your son/daughter to have Internet access.
A.U.P.
Network, Internet & Email Acceptable Use Policy
Aim of the School
The aim of The Harris Middle School is to provide an excellent education in a safe, supportive learning environment, where people are valued and make positive contributions to the school community, and where students go on to become responsible, independent members of society.
Principles
We believe that students and staff at The Harris Middle School have the right to work and study using the Internet and Intranet in school in a safe learning environment. Access to the Internet must be within the law.
Purposes
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To enable the use of the ICT network to support, enhance and develop all aspects of the curriculum at The Harris Middle School
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To ensure that all users are able to access the internet in order to support and promote learning
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To provide all users with a secure environment in which to use the internet
Guidlines
When using the network and Internet all users must comply with all copyright, libel, fraud, discrimination and obscenity laws
Users should be aware that internet access is monitored and that every site they attempt to visit is recorded and may be traced back to them
The school reserves the right to restrict or remove access to the Internet, Intranet and the network system in the event of any user misusing network and communication facilities
All users must agree to undertake to comply with the provisions of the following Acts of Parliament:
- Computer Misuse Act 1990
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1990/Ukpga_19900018_en_1.htm
- Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1994/Ukpga_19940033_en_1.htm
- Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1988/Ukpga_19880048_en_1.htm
- Trade Marks Act 1994
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1994/Ukpga_19940026_en_1.htm
- Data Protection Act 1998
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/19980029.htm
- Freedom of Information Act 2000
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2000/20000036.htm
See appendix A for a summary of the main points of law.
Copies of these documents are available from the websites above. Further advice should be obtained through the ICT Network Manager in the first instance.
Guidelines for students, staff and parents
Filtering External Websites
It is an absolute requirement that access to the Internet provided to staff and students in any school or educational institution through any Internet Service Provider (ISP) is a blocked or filtered service.
All users should be aware that the LEA can and does track and record the sites visited and the searches made on the Intranet/Internet by individual users.
Parents should be aware that with the emerging and constantly changing technologies there is no absolute guarantee that users cannot access materials that would be considered unsuitable.
If a student or member of staff is unfortunate enough to come across any offensive web pages, whilst using school equipment, they should make a note of the address and report it to an appropriate member of staff immediately. The ICT Network Manager will then take the appropriate action to block the site.
Online activities which are not permitted include:
- Copying, saving or redistributing copyright-protected material including .mp3 and .wav files.
- Playing computer games or using interactive ‘chat’ sites.
- Using the network in such a way that use of the network by other users is disrupted.
- Publishing, sharing or distributing any personal information (such as: home address; email address; phone number; etc).
- Retrieving, sending, copying or displaying offensive, pornographic, obscene or racist messages or pictures.
- Using obscene or racist language, or harassing, insulting or attacking other people.
- Damaging computers, computer systems or computer networks.
- Using another user’s password.
- Trespassing in another user’s folders, work or files.
- The creation or transmission of any offensive, obscene or indecent images, data or other material, or any data capable of being resolved into obscene or indecent images or material.
- The creation or transmission of defamatory material.
- Deliberate activities with any of the following characteristics:
- Corrupting or destroying other users’ data;
- Disrupting the work of other users;
- Deliberate introduction of "viruses";
- Attempting to bypass network or computer security.
Users should:
- Inform the ICT Network Manager or an appropriate member of staff if they believe that attempts have been made to make unacceptable use of the internet.
- Inform the ICT Network Manager or an appropriate member of staff if they discover any materials they consider may be offensive or inappropriate.
- Use only their own login and password, which they will keep secret. If a password has been compromised the student must inform the ICT Manager immediately to have the password changed.
E-mail
E-mail is currently not to be used within the school, this is under constant review
Additional guidelines for staff
Supervising and Monitoring Usage
Students should be encouraged to use the Internet and Intranet where appropriate. However student access to machines should be limited to those set aside for student use.
Network administrators review files and communications to maintain system integrity and ensure that users are using the system responsibly. While normal privacy is respected and protected by password controls, as with the Internet itself, users must not expect files stored on The Harris Middle School network to be absolutely private.
Staff are permitted to use the Internet and Intranet for their own non-school purposes during break times and before and after school provided that such use is not excessive or at the expense of work to support student learning. However during the school day it is expected that use of the Internet and Intranet by staff will be solely to support learning or school administration.
Installing software
Only the I.C.T. dept. Administration Staff of The Harris Middle School are allowed to install software on school computers and on the network system. In order to have any software, shareware or freeware installed, staff must sign the relevant authorisation agreement.
Appendix A
Computer Misuse Act 1990
This Act makes it an offence:
- To erase or amend data or programs without authority
- To obtain unauthorised access to a computer.
- To "eavesdrop" on a computer.
- To make unauthorised use of computer time or facilities.
- To maliciously corrupt or erase data or programs.
- To deny access to authorised users.
Criminal Justice & Public Order Act 1994
This defines a criminal offence of intentional harassment, which covers all forms of harassment, including sexual. A person is guilty of an offence if, with intent to cause a person harassment, alarm or distress, s/he:-
- Uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour; or
- Displays any writing, sign or other visible representation, which is threatening, abusive or insulting, thereby causing that or another person harassment, alarm or distress.
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
This Act, together with a number of Statutory Instruments that have amended and extended it, controls copyright law. It makes it an offence to copy all, or a substantial part, which can be a quite small portion, of a copyright work.
There are, however, certain limited user permissions, such as fair dealing, which means under certain circumstances permission is not needed to copy small amounts for research or private study.
The Act also provides for Moral Rights, whereby authors can sue if their name is not included in a work they wrote, or if the work has been amended in such a way to impugn their reputation.
Copyright covers materials in print and electronic form, and includes words, images, sound, moving images, TV broadcasts and many other media.
Data Protection Acts 1984 and 1998
The 1984 Act requires that any person or organisation processing information about individuals in machine-readable form must register with the Data Protection Registrar and must abide by a number of principles.
It also gives individuals the right to inspect information held about them, to demand amendments to records if they are inaccurate, and to sue if they suffer financial damage as a result of incorrect information.
When the 1998 Act was brought fully into force in 2000 it replaced the 1984 Act. It will extend the provisions to material in manual form, and place the onus in many cases on the person or organisation handling the personal information to request permission from the individuals before using the information.
Appendix B
Sanctions for students who misuse the computer system or the Internet or Intranet
Action will be taken as appropriate for the offence involved including restricting access to the Internet or the school network, calling in Police to deal with certain actions and taking legal action to protect the school.
End of A.U.P.
PUPIL GUIDELINES
Pupils are responsible for good behaviour on the Internet just as they are in a classroom or a school corridor. General school rules apply.
The Internet is provided for pupils to conduct research and communicate with others. Parents' permission is required. Remember that access is a privilege, not a right and that access requires responsibility.
Individual users of the Internet are responsible for their behaviour and communications over the network.
It is presumed that users will comply with school standards and will honour the agreements they have signed.
Staff reserve the right to review files and communications to insure that users are using the system responsibly.
Users should not expect that files stored on servers or disks will always be private.
During school, teachers will guide pupils towards appropriate materials. Outside of school, families bear responsibility for such guidance, as they must also exercise with information sources such as television, telephones, movies, radio and other potentially offensive materials.
The following are not permitted
- Sending or displaying offensive messages or pictures
- Using obscene language
- Harassing, insulting, misleading or attacking others
- Damaging computers, computer systems or computer networks
- Violating copyright laws
- Using others' passwords
- Trespassing in others folders, work or files. Intentionally wasting limited resources
Sanctions
- Violations of the above rules will result in a temporary or permanent ban on Internet use.
- Additional disciplinary action may be added in line with existing practice on inappropriate language or behaviour.
When applicable, police or local authorities may be involved.
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