IT Acceptable Use Policy for Pupils

At Queen’s Gate, we aim to ensure that girls have good access to digital technologies to enhance their learning and we take every reasonable precaution, including making use of monitoring and filtering systems, to ensure that girls will be safe when they use the Internet and IT systems.

In return, Queen’s Gate expects the girls to agree to be responsible users. All girls are expected to follow this IT Acceptable Use Policy both in school and outside school. We may impose sanctions for the misuse, or attempted misuse, of IT. Remember that the School monitors use of the School’s IT systems, and that the School can view content accessed or sent via its systems. Girls should be aware that school email and Internet usage (including through school WiFi) will be monitored for safeguarding, conduct and performance purposes, and both web history and school email accounts may be accessed by the School where necessary for a lawful purpose – including serious conduct or welfare concerns, extremism and the protection of others. Any personal devices used by girls, whether or not such devices are permitted, may be confiscated and examined under such circumstances. All girls must recognise that the School can and will search for evidence of inappropriate use of technology if an allegation is made that a pupil has not followed this Policy.

Parents and pupils are requested to read this document and return a signed copy to show their acceptance of this Policy and their support of the School in this important aspect of the School’s work. Acceptance of this Policy is a condition of access to the School’s Internet and IT systems.

A deliberate breach of this Policy by a girl will be dealt with as a disciplinary matter using the School’s usual applicable procedures. In addition, any inappropriate use may result in the School restricting or withdrawing that person’s access to school Internet and IT systems. If you become aware of a breach of this Policy or you are concerned that a member of the school community is being harassed or harmed online, you should report it to the Director of Pastoral Care. Reports will be treated in confidence wherever possible.

CHARTER FOR THE SAFE USE OF THE Internet AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES AT QUEEN’S GATE SCHOOL

All girls must follow this Charter which was produced after discussion between pupils and staff.

Cyberbullying

As pupils we will:

• Not join networking sites if we are under the minimum age indicated by the provider. For

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok,

Pinterest, Google+, Tumblr, Reddit, Discord,

Snapchat, Ask.fm, Secret and LinkedIn, this is thirteen; for WhatsApp it is sixteen;for

YouTube, Kik, Flickr, WeChat, Foursquare and Keek, it is eighteen, although users above thirteen may use these sites with parental permission. Therefore, no girl in

Remove is to use any social networking site.

• Tell a parent or teacher if we feel threatened or uncomfortable about anything online. • Use the ‘block’ or ‘report’ feature on social networking sites. • Keep names, addresses, passwords, mobile phone numbers and other personal details safe and private online. • Never put something on a social networking site which we would not pin up on the notice board in any classroom (applies to both words and images). • Use appropriate privacy settings when using social networking sites at home (N.B. Access to all social networking sites is prohibited when in school). • Take a screenshot of offending items, which can be used as evidence that bullying has taken place. • Not tick ‘like’ in response to a message or status which might hurt or offend someone. • Not circulate links to unknown or suspicious websites. IT Acceptable Use Policy for Pupils

IT Acceptable Use Policy for Pupils

• Not create, access or share content that is illegal, deceptive, inappropriate or likely to offend other members of the school community (for example, content that is obscene, or promotes violence, discrimination, extremism or raises safeguarding issues). • Not enrol other pupils in online chats unless we have their express permission to do so. • Not use another pupil’s personal property, details or passwords to access any website or app. • Not engage in any form of upskirting which is a criminal offence.

Treating other users with respect

As pupils we will:

• Recognise that the School’s Code of

Behaviour and Anti-Bullying Policy applies equally to online communication. • Recognise that the School cannot guarantee the confidentiality of content created, shared and exchanged via its school systems, and that the School has a duty to report to parents or teachers online conversations which suggest that pupils are at risk, e.g. discussions of self-harming, eating disorders. • Ensure that our online communications, and any content we share online, are respectful of others and composed in a way we would wish to stand by. • Respect the privacy of others and not share photos, videos, contact details, comments or other information about members of the school community, even if the content is not publicly shared. • Treat members of staff and each other online with the same standards of consideration and good manners as we apply in face to face contact. • Pause for reflection before we press the

‘send’ button and read through our message or check an image so that we can consider the effect on the person receiving it. • Look after each other and report any concerns about the misuse of technology, or any other worrying issue, to a member of staff. • Not access or share material that infringes copyright, and not claim the work of others as our own. • When we are allowed to communicate online with members of staff, we will use acceptable language which is appropriately formal. Messages should begin with ‘Dear

Mr/Mrs/Ms…’ and end with ‘Best wishes,’ or

‘Many thanks’. • Not attempt to discover or contact the personal email addresses or social media accounts of members of staff.

Safe use of technology and personal electronic equipment

As pupils we will:

• Only access school IT systems using my own username and password, and not share my username or password with anyone else. • Use a unique, complex password, and change it immediately if there are concerns about its security. • Not attempt to bypass the content filters or other security measures installed on the

School’s IT systems, and not attempt to access parts of the system that we do not have permission to access. • Not attempt to gain unauthorised access to anyone else’s computer or to confidential information to which we do not have access rights. • Not attempt to install software on, or otherwise alter, school IT systems. • Remember that the School monitors use of its IT systems, and that the School can view content accessed or sent via its systems. • Tell a teacher if we become aware of a data breach; for example, if information has been sent to the wrong person or if someone else has used my account. • Use privacy settings on social networking sites. • Exercise extreme caution in making contact with people we do not know through social networking sites. • Not create, access or share content that we know to be distressing or that encourages harmful behaviour, including material that promotes terrorism and extremist views.

We will immediately report any such content, if we come across it.

• Be aware that anything that has been deleted may be cached in a search engine, company server or Internet archive and cause embarrassment years later. • Not use the Internet to distribute malicious software, to damage, interfere with, or gain unauthorised access to the computer systems of others, or carry out illegal activities. • Respect and handle with appropriate care any school computer or other school IT property and will use it only in accordance with any training and policies provided.

We will report any problems or damage immediately to IT Support (extn 444). • Log off and shut down whenever we finish using a computer, laptop or netbook. • Return laptops and other School devices to the charging cabinets after use and attach the charging cables properly. • Switch off mobile phones and other personal electronic devices during the school day and ensure they are locked away securely. We will not use mobiles between 8.35 am and 4.10 pm. If we arrive in School early, we will not use our mobiles other than to let parents know of our whereabouts. We, therefore, understand that mobiles used in the mornings anywhere other than the ground floor (as we enter the building to inform parents of our safe arrival) will be confiscated. • Understand that personal devices such as laptops and iPads must not be brought into

School, unless in Form V–UVI – devices must then be registered with IT Support and used only for School-related purposes. • Understand that the permitted use of mobile phones and other personal electronic devices for Sixth Formers is a privilege accompanied by the expectation of responsible use.

Mobile phones and other personal electronic devices must only be used in the Sixth Form area and should never be brought to lessons or private study periods in the Library,

Library Annexe or Extension. • Not bring smart watches to School. • Keep computers and mobile devices out of bedrooms and avoid over-use of messaging and social networking. • Not use any device to record, take a photograph or make a video within the school day or on school premises, without the express permission of a member of staff. • Not use a classroom computer without permission from a member of staff.

All girls are expected to follow this Charter for the safe use of the Internet and electronic devices both in school and at home. Copies are given to all girls and their parents and we may impose sanctions for the misuse, or attempted misuse, of the Internet, mobile phones and other electronic devices when in school.

Remember that the School monitors use of the School’s IT systems, and that the School can view content accessed or sent via its systems. Girls should be aware that school email and Internet usage (including through school WiFi) will be monitored for safeguarding, conduct and performance purposes, and both web history and school email accounts may be accessed by the School where necessary for a lawful purpose – including serious conduct or welfare concerns, extremism and the protection of others. Any personal devices used by girls, whether or not such devices are permitted, may be confiscated and examined under such circumstances All girls must recognise that the School can and will search for evidence of inappropriate use of technology if an allegation is made that a pupil has broken the terms of this Charter.

Zoom Protocols

https://queensgate.zoom.us/

In order to safeguard pupils and staff, it is important that pupils understand and observe the following protocols: A recording of each live session will be made by the School and stored in the School’s Zoom Cloud account. This cannot be distributed due to data protection regulations and will be stored in accordance with our Privacy Notice. Live-streamed sessions must not be recorded, photographed or distributed by anyone else, in any way.