Don Valley Academy

All pupils use computer facilities including Internet access as an essential part of learning, as required by the National Curriculum. Both pupils and their parents/carers are asked to sign to show that the ICT E-safety Rules have been understood and agreed.

The computer system is owned by the school. This policy helps to protect students, staff and the school by clearly stating what use of the computer resources is acceptable and what is not.

ICT Rules

• Irresponsible use may result in the loss of Internet access.
• You must only log on to the network with your own account and password, which must not be given to any other person.
• School computer and Internet use must be appropriate to the student’s education or to staff professional activity.
• The use of Facebook/Bebo/MySpace and any other social networking sites are not allowed.
• The use of chat rooms/instant messaging is not allowed.
• Copyright and intellectual property rights must be respected.
• E-mail should be written carefully and politely, particularly as messages may be forwarded or printed and be seen by unexpected readers.
• Users are responsible for e-mail they send and for contacts made.
• The school ICT systems may not be used for private purposes, unless the head teacher has given permission for that use.
• Use for personal financial gain, gambling, political purposes or advertising is not permitted.
• ICT system security must be respected; it is a criminal offence to use a computer for a purpose not permitted by the system owner.

The school may exercise its right to monitor the use of the school’s computer systems, including access to web-sites, the interception of e-mail and the deletion of inappropriate materials where it believes unauthorised use of the school’s computer system may be taking place, or the system may be being used for criminal purposes or for storing unauthorised or unlawful text, imagery or sound.