Overview and Policy
The College has a dedicated email address for parents/carers to ask for advice or support. This is [email protected]
Curriculum
All students study a dedicated, age-related curriculum around Online Risks and Dangers and how to navigate safely using the Internet. This forms part of the College’s Personal Development curriculum and is studied in Computer Science lessons, Values/Learning for Life, Tutor Time and discrete units of learning throughout the year.
Filtering & Monitoring
Whilst using the College network, there are a range of measures in place to monitor and protect students. If you have any questions on this, please contact the College using the dedicated email address above:
Smoothwall Web Filter – This provides age appropriate filtering of websites to ensure that students are protected from viewing harmful material. A daily report is collated of websites that were blocked by the filter.
Smoothwall Monitor – This monitors all activity on any College device using any software. Anything typed in by users is monitored and concerning words or phrases trigger an alert to the Safeguarding team at the College.
Net Support Classroom Management – Teachers can view and monitor the entire class set of computers and remotely launch or close applications. Staff can also exhibit or demonstrate exemplar student work to the rest of the class
Net Support DNA – The ICT systems team use a network management tool for tracking and monitoring all computer/user activity in the College
Barracuda Email filtering and Trend Micro Anti-virus web protection - Advanced virus/malware/spyware protection including Phishing and Impersonation Protection.”
Support
The following are external links that provide support for parents/carers:
Setting Parental controls -
It is normally quite straightforward to set up parental controls on your home wifi and devices.
Please check internetmatters for the most up-to-date list of devices and services.
Parent's guides -
The following guides are from commonsensemedia.org and give useful information to parents on a whole range of apps and games:
- Parents guide to TikTok
- Parents guide to Discord
- Parents guide to Houseparty
- Parents guide to Omeagle
- Parents guide to Snapchat
- Parents guide to Instagram
Social Media Security settings -
The guides below offer support on how to adjust privacy settings for several of the most popular apps:
Useful Websites
- internetmatters.org
Lots of support on all aspects to do with parents keeping their children safe online. - Common Sense Media
Independent parental advice on the benefits and dangers of apps, games, movies etc. - Parent Info
Lots of support/advice on all social media apps and games. - Thinkuknow
Advice from the National Crime Agency on how to stay safe online. It includes sections for parents and students and advice on reporting. - Net Aware
NSPCC site giving guidance and advice on all social media apps and games. - UK Safer Internet Centre
Consortium of charities to raise awareness and offer advice to parents and students. - Childline
Includes advice on how to report abuse. - NetSmartz
Age-appropriate videos and activities to help teach children be safer online.