ICT Acceptable Use Policy Full Version. The Manchester Grammar School

Transcription

1 Full Version The Manchester Grammar School Steve Foster Michael Strother January 2011

2 Part I: Policy Statement 1. Scope: This policy applies to all pupils, staff, volunteers and visitors at the School when utilising electronic equipment provided by the School, or otherwise taking part in any action relating to the School, its staff, pupils or parents facilitated by electronic devices. 2. Publication: This policy is available to all parents and pupils via the School s website ( and on request from the Assistant Surmaster. It is also available to members of staff via the staff intranet. An alternative version, aimed expressly at MGS pupils, is published separately on MGScentral.org. This document can also be found at Appendix 1 below. 3. Policy aims: Through the operation of this policy the School aims: To protect the integrity and ensure the efficient working of its computer network; To promote good sense, sensitivity and co-operation when using the computer network and electronic equipment provided by the School; To support the School s Behaviour and Discipline and Anti-Bullying policies; and To educate pupils in the safe and responsible use of all electronic devices. 4. Use of the internet: Use of the internet by employees and pupils of The Manchester Grammar School is permitted and encouraged where such use supports the aims and ethos and the objectives of the School. However, the School requires that, when using the internet, staff and pupils must: Comply with any and all relevant legislation; Use the internet in a way which is acceptable to the School; Use facilities provided by the School for purposes approved by the School; and Not cause unnecessary risk to the School s reputation or commercial interests through misuse, whether intended or otherwise, of internet facilities. Part II: Misuse of Computers 5. Meaning: Misuse of computers relates to any action on the part of pupils or staff facilitated by computers which impacts adversely upon the physical or mental wellbeing of others, whether members of the School community or otherwise. It also extends to conduct which harms or exposes to the risk of harm, the School s reputation, commercial interests and property. 6. Intentional and non-intentional misuse: Not all misuse of computers is deliberate or malicious. Some individuals may see such conduct as light-hearted game. Whilst this misuse is unacceptable it may be corrected quickly following advice and without the need for disciplinary sanctions. However, it should be understood that a pupil found guilty of misusing 2

3 the computer network following such advice will be punished and, ultimately, may have to leave the School. 7. Application: Without restricting the generality of para. 5, computer misuse includes: Playing or participating in online computer games without authorisation; Searching for security problems, whether real or imagined; Gaining or attempting to gain unauthorised access to computer hardware or software; Unauthorised acts to impair the operation of computers; Making, supplying or obtaining articles for use in computer misuse offences, as provided for by the Computer Misuse Act 1990 as amended; Plagiarism (defined as the intentional use of other people s material without attribution) or infringing copyright law; Accessing the file space of another user, changing the desktop set-up or introducing viruses; Visiting internet sites that contain obscene, hateful, pornographic or otherwise illegal material; Using the computer to perpetrate any form of fraud, or software, film or music piracy; Using the internet to send offensive or harmful material to other users; Downloading commercial software or any copyrighted materials belonging to third parties, where the download is neither covered nor permitted under a commercial agreement or other such licence; Hacking and cracking into unauthorised areas; Publishing defamatory and/or false material about the School, its staff or pupils and/or their parents on: social networking sites, blogs, wikis and any other online or electronic publishing format; Undertaking activities that lead to a waste of staff time or networked resources; Installing or running any form of software, whether malicious or otherwise, on the School network; and Cyberbullying (see para. 8 below). 8. Cyberbullying: Cyberbullying is strictly prohibited both by the School s Anti-Bullying Policy and the Staff Employment Manual. It can be defined as the use of information and communications technology (ICT), particularly mobile phones and the internet, deliberately to upset someone else (see Cyberbullying: safe to learn: embedding anti-bullying work in schools DCSF ). Anyone engaged in cyberbullying can expect to face serious disciplinary action as provided for by the relevant School policies. 3

4 9. Legal considerations: Where it suspects that misuse of computers may involve criminal behaviour (as provided for by legislation such as the Police and Justice Act 2006, the Misuse of Computers Act 1990, the Data Protection Act 1998 and The Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003), the School will report such behaviour to the police. Part III: Control of Electronic Equipment 10. Approach: The School s systems for detecting and dealing with misuse of electronic equipment are set out below. 11. Monitoring: The School continues to invest in and otherwise develop its computer network since it sees the latter as an indispensable tool for teaching, learning, administrative and other purposes essential to its core business. This is especially true of the School s internetrelated services and resources. However, the harmful consequences of misusing this facility can be severe. Therefore, the School asserts its right to monitor all activity on its computer network, including both the content of electronic communications and files stored on it. 12. Vigilance: Members of staff are required to be vigilant at all times to the possibility that electronic equipment is being misused. 13. Staff training and guidance: The dangers inherent in the misuse of electronic devices is one of the issues provided for by the induction programme for newly appointed teachers. In addition, appropriate training is also provided to ensure that all staff have the necessary awareness of this problem and the professional skills to respond appropriately. Further, the Code of Conduct, together with the and Internet Policy provided for in the Employment Manual, set out the responsibilities of staff members when using electronic devices. 14. CCTV: Closed circuit television cameras also help ensure that specified members of staff can monitor pupil behaviour in those areas of the School where the latter have access to computer equipment. The use of these cameras and the images they capture is governed by the School s own Code of Conduct. The School s Code aims to comply fully with its duties as a data controller as set out by the Data Protection Act 1998, together with the guidance provided by the Information Commissioner s Office. Copies can be obtained on request from the Assistant Surmaster. 15. Oversight: This is principally provided by the Heads of ICT and Computer Services, together with their departmental staff. However, and in addition, misuse of electronic devices and the procedures for dealing with it are discussed in meetings of inter alia: the Strategic Management and Leadership Group, the Senior Pastoral Committee and the wider Pastoral Team. 16. Pupil education: Measures are taken throughout each year group to educate pupils about appropriate use of electronic devices and the dangers inherent in their misuse. These include: Components of the PSHE programme; 4

5 The ICT curriculum, especially in the introductory course to pupils who have newly joined the School; Assemblies, including the annual assemblies by Heads of Section on cyberbullying; The annual meeting for parents on the subjects of internet safety and cyberbullying; and Communications with pastoral managers of neighbouring schools, including Withington Girls School and Manchester High School for Girls, regarding cyberbullying and other forms of computer misuse. 17. Pupils' responsibilities: The School emphasises to senior pupils and Form Prefects the role which is expected of them in setting a good example and being helpful to younger pupils and each other. Prefects are assigned to supervise the computer rooms which are open to other pupils at break time and lunch time. However, the School accepts and seeks to ensure that: The responsibilities of prefects are appropriately limited; and Prefects receive training at the beginning of the academic year on how to supervise and support younger pupils sensitively. 18. Record keeping: The Head of ICT, Heads of Year and Heads of Section keep records of all potentially significant or serious incidents of misuse of electronic equipment. Information will be shared with the Computer Services Department and, where the incident is sufficiently serious, the Pastoral Deputy and other members of SML will be informed. In the most serious circumstances, i.e. where criminal conduct is suspected or child protection issues involved, these records will be shared with the relevant external agencies. Part IV: Personal Safety E-Safety 19. Introduction to Part IV: Part IV of this policy relates to the way in which pupils perceive and use the internet, specifically their vulnerability to exploitation by others. 20. Pupil awareness: The main goals of this part of the School s Acceptable Use Policy are set out below. In particular, the School will take all reasonable and practicable measures to ensure that, amongst other things, its pupils: Never post onto a website or internet forum personal contact information about themselves or others; Never agree to meet with someone they have met online without their parents knowledge and approval; Never use or produce images which are inter alia obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, inflammatory, threatening, or use language which is disrespectful of or harmful to others; Promptly disclose to a member of staff or another appropriate and responsible adult if they receive any electronic communication that is inappropriate or makes them feel uncomfortable; and Never use or attempt to use a computer network to access or propagate material that is profane or obscene (such as pornography), that advocates illegal acts, or that advocates violence or discrimination towards other people (such as hate literature). 5

6 21. Communicating with members of staff: The Code of Conduct for staff sets out the duties for employees of the School in respect of using electronic means to communicate with pupils. However, it is a key part of this policy that pupils themselves only communicate with staff via their School accounts. In particular, they should refrain from the following: Sending s to staff via private, i.e. non-mgs, accounts; and Sending friend requests to staff from social networking sites such as Facebook. Where pupils receive from members of staff either s from a private account or friend requests, they must not respond but instead report this to their Form Tutor or Head of Year. Part V: Procedures for Reporting and Responding to Allegations of Misuse, Etc 22. Introduction to Part V: The following procedures are designed to guide staff and pupils as to how they should respond when they suspect that electronic equipment within School is being misused or that a member of the School community is vulnerable or otherwise at risk of harm as a consequence of misuse elsewhere. 23. Reporting misuse of electronic devices (1) Pupils: A pupil who is aware of instances of the misuse of electronic equipment within School or relating to members of the School community (as victims or perpetrators) should report such information at the earliest opportunity. He can: tell his parents, his Form Tutor, his Head of Year, the Head of ICT or any member of the teaching or support staff, or a responsible older pupil. (2) Parents: Parents who become aware of incidents where misuse of School electronic equipment is suspected should contact their son s Head of Year without delay. (3) Staff: Staff have a duty to act upon information relating to suspected incidents of misuse of electronic devices. Where the incident of inappropriate conduct relates to the behaviour of pupils, staff should report their concerns immediately to the relevant Head of Year or Section. Where the allegation is particularly serious (e.g. where there are a large number of people involved either as victims or as perpetrators, or has occurred after repeated warnings to the contrary), the Head of Year must inform the Pastoral Deputy or another member of the Senior Management and Leadership Group. However, where suspicions concern an adult (including members of staff) they must follow the School s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and report the matter immediately to the Designated Person or, in her absence, her designated Deputy. 24. The School s response: Subject to para. 24 below, the responsible member of staff will then ensure that the matter is properly investigated by the School. The ICT and Computer Services Departments will advise and otherwise assist as appropriate. 25. Referrals: Where School policy suggests that it is necessary, the School will refer any matter to external agencies. 6

7 26. Disciplinary action: When allegations of misuse involving pupils are upheld, the School will ordinarily respond in accordance with the School's Behaviour and Discipline Policy. However, where it believes that the misuse constitutes serious misconduct, this will be dealt with under the School s Exclusion Policy. In certain cases, this could result either in the pupil s permanent exclusion or in the High Master requesting that his parents withdraw him from School. Matters involving members of staff will be handled in accordance with procedures laid down in the Employment Manual. 27. Monitoring: Following investigation or any other outcome provided for in para.s 23-5 above, the School might monitor the situation for as long as senior staff, as advised by the Heads of ICT and Computer Services, deem it reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances. This may include: Sharing information between colleagues; Restrictions on using School property; Counselling and support; and Heightened vigilance. 28. Review: This Policy will be reviewed annually by the Assistant Surmaster (who also serves as the School s E-Safety Office), after consultation with the Head of ICT, the Head of Computer Services and the Pastoral Deputy, and updated as necessary. In undertaking the review the Assistant Surmaster will take into account: the results of any monitoring provided for in para. 26, relevant legal and regulatory changes and any other relevant information which has been made available to him. Authorised by: Senior Management and Leadership Group Date: Monday, 17 th January 2011 Effective date of the policy: Monday, 17 th January 2011 Circulation: Governors / all staff / parents / pupils Status: Advisory 7