In order for students to have access to the school’s computer network as part of their studies here at Lytchett Minster School, it is necessary for both the students themselves and their parents/carers to agree to our acceptable computer usage policy.
An understanding of the policy and both parties' agreement to it are crucial to providing a safe and reliable computer environment at Lytchett Minster which is of tremendous value for learning.
It is very important that students and their parents/carers read this policy in detail; it must then be electronically signed by both parties. Any breach of these regulations will result in disciplinary action against the student(s) involved.
Access to the computer systems can only be granted once this agreement is received by the school’s IT Support Department. We are not able to grant anyone access to the computer network unless we hold their agreement to the acceptable use policy.
We have active measures in place to ensure that use of the internet is safe within the school environment to the best of our abilities, but many students will have Internet facilities at home, where the risks—small but significant—can be greater without the filtering system and other measures used in school. We encourage all parents/carers to take an active role in their children's safety when using the Internet.
The Internet (or World Wide Web—‘www’) is a global network of computers that communicate with one another, enabling access to a vast range of educational resources.
Lytchett Minster students have the opportunity to access the Internet as part of their studies, using computers in many areas of the school. It can be a tool of limitless value, providing access to quality educational material from all over the world. The school’s systems also have a wealth of educational programmes and data held locally.
However, the Internet is also home to a body of material that no parent would wish their child to view. We have implemented a professional-grade filtering and monitoring service, which aims to ensure that none of this information can be accessed, and users cannot interact with others on the Internet who may not be who they claim to be. The filtering service is not foolproof, however. Consequently, users need to be aware of how to use the Internet and other school systems safely, legally and appropriately with regard to their own and others’ welfare. This acceptable use policy outlines how users should, and should not, use the computer and Internet facilities provided by the school.
Lytchett Minster School monitors and records users’ computer and network activities, and the data that they access and store, to help guard against inappropriate or illegal use.
All users shall:
All users shall not:
The use of school computer systems and the Internet will be monitored and recorded, and this information may be passed to other relevant authorities (e.g. the police) if any illegal activity takes place. This information is recorded against the user’s login name.
Misuse of school computer systems or the Internet will result in disciplinary action, including written warnings, withdrawal of access privileges, and in extreme cases, suspension or expulsion.