31. Internet Policy

Policy Statement
Brighton Hill Community School will ensure that all users of the Schools provided internet facilities are aware of the acceptable use of these facilities.

Purpose
This Policy document tells you how you should use your School internet facility. It outlines your personnel responsibilities and informs what you must and must not do.
It is recognised that it is impossible to define precise rules covering all internet activities available and adherence should be undertaken within the spirit of the policy to ensure productive use of the facility is made.
This policy replaces previous Internet policies.

Scope
This internet policy applies to, but is not limited to, all Brighton Hill Community School employees, partners, students, contractual third parties and agents of the School who access the Schools internet service and IT equipment.

Definition
This internet policy should be applied at all times when ever using the Schools provided internet facility. This includes access via any web enabled device connected to the school network.

Risks
Brighton Hill Community School recognises that there are risks associated with users accessing and handling information in order to conduct official School business or as part of the educational service provided to students, or part of the educational process used by students.
This policy aims to mitigate the following risks:

• The non-reporting of information security incidents,
• Inadequate destruction of data,
• The loss of direct control of user access to information systems facilities

Non-compliance with this policy could have a significant effect on the efficient operation of the School and may result in financial loss and an inability to provide necessary services to the administration and curriculum areas.

Applying the Policy
The internet service is primarily provided to give both staff and students:

• Access to information that is pertinent to fulfilling the Schools business obligations.
• The capability to post updates on to the School website
• An electronic commerce facility

Your school internet account should be used in accordance with this policy to access anything in pursuance of your work including:

• Access to and/or provision if information.
• Research.
• Electronic commerce (e.g. purchasing equipment for the School).
• Personal Use of the Schools Internet Service

Internet access for personal use is generally confined to outside of normal working hours (for students personal access, teachers permission will be required). Personal use must still comply with this policy including its provisions regarding misuse.
The School is not, however, responsible for any personal transactions you enter into – for example in respect of the quality, delivery or loss of items ordered. You must accept responsibility for, and keep the School protected against, any claims, damages, losses or the like which might arise from the transaction – for example in relation to payment for the items or any personal injury or damage to property they might cause.
If you purchase personal goods or services via the Schools internet service you are responsible for ensuring that the information you provide shows that the transaction is being entered into by you personally and not on behalf of the School.
If you are in any doubt about how you may make personal use of the Schools internet service you are advised to consult your departments ICT Co-ordinator or the ICT Support team.
All personal usage must be in accordance with this policy. Your computer and any data held on it are the property of Brighton Hill Community School and may be accessed at any time by the School to ensure compliance with all its statutory, regulatory and internal policy requirements.

Internet Account Management, Security and Monitoring

• The School will provide a secure logon-id and password facility for your internet account. The Schools ICT Support team are responsible for the technical management of this account.
• You are responsible for the security provided by your network logon-id and password. Only you should know your password and you should be the only person who uses your internet account.
• The provision of internet access is owned by the School and all access is recorded, logged and interrogated for the purpose of:
• Monitoring total usage to ensure business use is not impacted by lack of capacity.
• The filtering system monitors and records all access for reports that are produced for line managers, senior management team, auditors and when specifically requested Head of Houses/Head of Year (student account only).

Things You Must Not Do

• Access to the following categories of websites is currently blocked using a URL filtering system: Illegal /Pornographic /Violence/Hate and Discrimination/Offensive/Weapons/Hacking/Web Chat/Gambling/Dating/Radio Stations/Non-educational Games.
• Except where it is strictly and necessarily required for your work, for example IT audit activity or other investigation, you must not use your internet account to:
• Create, download, upload, display or access knowingly, sites that contain pornography or other “unsuitable” material that might be deemed illegal, obscene or offensive.
• Subscribe to, enter or use peer-to-peer networks or install software that allows sharing of music, video or image files.
• Subscribe to, enter or utilise real time chat facilities such as chat rooms, text messenger or pager programs.
• Subscribe to, enter or use online gaming or betting sites.
• Subscribe to or enter “money making” sites or enter or use “money making” programs.
• Run a private business.
• Download any software unless permission is granted by ICT Services Network Manager.

The above list gives examples of “unsuitable” usage but is neither exclusive nor exhaustive. “Unsuitable” material would include data, images, audio files or video files the transmission of which is illegal under British Law, and, material that is against the rules, essence and spirit of this and other School policies.
Your Responsibilities:

• Familiarise yourself with the detail, essence and spirit of this policy before using the internet facility provided for your work.
• Assess any risk associated with Internet usage and ensure that the internet is the most appropriate mechanism to use.
• Know that you may only use the Schools internet facilities within the term describe herein.
• Read and abide by the following related policies:
• E-mail Policy

Policy Compliance

• If any user is found to have breached this policy, they will be subject to Brighton Hill Community School disciplinary procedure. If a criminal offence is considered to have been committed further action may be taken to assist in the prosecution of the offender(s).
• If you do not understand the implications of this policy or how it may apply to you, seek advice from personnel.

Review and Revision
This policy will be reviewed as it is deemed appropriate.
Policy review will be undertaken by the ICT Network Manager.

References

• Email Policy
• Acceptable Usage Policy  - available on the BHCS Helpdesk https://BHCChelpdesk.brightonhill.hants.sch.uk/ or they can be requested by email to itsupport@brightonhill.hants.sch.uk

Key Messages

• Users must familiarise themselves with the detail, essence and spirit of this policy before using the internet facility provided.
• Internet access for personal use is confined to outside of normal working hours (for students personal access, teachers permission will be required). Personal use must still comply with this policy including its provisions regarding misuse.
• Users are responsible for ensuring the security of their internet account logon-id and password. Individual user logon-id and passwords should only be used by that individual user, and they should be the only person who accesses their internet account.
• Users must not create, download, upload, display or access knowingly, sites that contain pornography or other “unsuitable” material that might be deemed illegal, obscene or offensive.
• Users must assess any risks associated with internet usage and ensure that the internet is the most appropriate mechanism to use.

Last Ratified: Oct 2014

Review: Oct 2017