Do you allow Vimeo?

[Koldov]

We are again having problems allowing teachers to view videos on White Rose Education (White Rose Maths/1 Minute Maths), due to the fact they host on Vimeo.

 

Last year I questioned the viability of this with them, expressing my view that most schools would block Vimeo entirely.

 

This was the response:

 

Vimeo was chosen as it was found to be a more suitable platform for a larger number of schools to access.

 

We have found that some schools can access the videos embedded in our website even where access to Vimeo has been blocked.

 

I couldn't help but think this wasn't true, but as we're having problems again I thought I'd ask here... I really only want to see a rough overview of numbers (nothing nuanced) to get as much evidence as I can, because I really hate it when software or platform suppliers/vendors say 'it's only you with the problem'...

 

We allow YouTube, but only for teachers and it is set to strict-restricted with Google Workspace video approval.

 

I haven't added a choice for 'YES but only for teachers, or 'YES, but with restricted access' because I don't know of any similar controls available for Vimeo so we do not allow it at all (but can still allow embedded content only thanks to LGfL), because I don't want to take the chance a teacher will accidentally click on the wrong video...

 

EDIT: Just looking for what the general consensus is, rather than believe White Rose Education's assertion, which is: "Vimeo was chosen as it was found to be a more suitable platform for a larger number of schools to access."

 

EDIT 2: To put it more simply... if you block it but allow certain videos, please still put 'NO'. Or block it but have to put in thousands of whitelisted URLs/rules, still please put 'NO'. I'm only looking for a 'YES' if you allow free access, which upholds the assertion from White Rose that Vimeo is a suitable video hosting platform for schools...

Edited January 23, 2025 by Koldov

[Jaan]

We don't at the moment. However as you say some material is stored there that is used for professional development. I've contacted Vimeo and requested filters be placed on our IP address which will block all non child friendly stuff....

 

You have to prove you own the IP via documentation from your ISP.....which we're still waiting for.

 

https://help.vimeo.com/hc/en-us/articles/12427619790481-I-need-to-restrict-access-to-mature-content-for-my-students

[DeGrimmy]

Vimeo is blocked by default to stop unrestricted access for both staff and students, but we can allow specific videos for staff and students through Smoothwall. If an online resource such as White Rose Maths uses Vimeo for their video hosting and they can't (or won't) offer an alternative, we'd ask them for a list of URLs so that we can allow the embedded videos.

[Fazza]

No and Yes for us. Vimeo itself it blocked but individual videos are unblocked.

[Koldov]

Vimeo is blocked by default to stop unrestricted access for both staff and students, but we can allow specific videos for staff and students through Smoothwall. If an online resource such as White Rose Maths uses Vimeo for their video hosting and they can't (or won't) offer an alternative, we'd ask them for a list of URLs so that we can allow the embedded videos.

 

Yes, we did receive an Excel sheet of URLs to whiteslist.

 

There are 2,346 of them...

[Koldov]

No and Yes for us. Vimeo itself it blocked but individual videos are unblocked.

 

Thanks, edited my post my just to make it clear what the general consensus is, rather than believe White Rose Education's assertion, which is: "Vimeo was chosen as it was found to be a more suitable platform for a larger number of schools to access."

Edited January 23, 2025 by Koldov

[Fazza]

Thanks, edited my post my just to make it clear what the general consensus is, rather than believe White Rose Education's assertion, which is: "Vimeo was chosen as it was found to be a more suitable platform for a larger number of schools to access."

 

We've had spreadsheets of row after row after row of Vimeo URLs to whitelist, just a case of copying and pasting them etc. a pain but we just get on with it else the systems they've paid for wont work. What will happen when they release new videos on some of the systems is anyones guess!

[Oaktech]

We whitelist specific URLS for Ruth Miskin and Whiterose. General access is not allowed.

[msi_school]

I belive that Vimeo was chosen becasue it is a more suitable platform for Whiterose, we allow it with an annoying number of block and allow rules becasue the teaching staff insist it is required.

 

As I always say about thses things why woud the company fix there issue when they can get a member of SLT to shout "but it works at other schools!"

[sigma]

 

We have found that some schools can access the videos embedded in our website even where access to Vimeo has been blocked.

 

 

We allow Vimeo and Youtube embededed content, but not Vimeo or YouTube per se.

 

We have Netsweeper and can do this, in one line by allowing the referrer header of the requesting site.

 

It has the benefits of not having to add lines of urls, and when the content on the "Maths sites" for exaple changes, it allows the new content automatically.

 

I presume other filtering providers also offer such a feature?

[Koldov]

We allow Vimeo and Youtube embededed content, but not Vimeo or YouTube per se.

 

We have Netsweeper and can do this, in one line by allowing the referrer header of the requesting site.

 

It has the benefits of not having to add lines of urls, and when the content on the "Maths sites" for exaple changes, it allows the new content automatically.

 

I presume other filtering providers also offer such a feature?

 

Yes, we can allow embedded content and have allowed it for Vimeo hosted videos, however after much discussion with LGfL I've talked to the teacher and it appears these are just links on the White Rose site, which then open a new tab directly to the video on the Vimeo site and are not embedded.

[sigma]

Yes, we can allow embedded content and have allowed it for Vimeo hosted videos, however after much discussion with LGfL I've talked to the teacher and it appears these are just links on the White Rose site, which then open a new tab directly to the video on the Vimeo site and are not embedded.

 

That is really cheap and nasty of them!

[Koldov]

That is really cheap and nasty of them!

 

Had similar thoughts initially, but now I have received communication from White Rose Education:

 

"Our videos have always been hosted on the Vimeo platform but are also embedded in our website in the Home Learning section."

 

So, now I have to message the teacher and wait for them to confirm, as I don't have access to the platform...

Edited January 23, 2025 by Koldov