SparkleBox?

[leco]

Thanks, I have seen a number of letters sent to school, from my LA stating YHGfL's "position" just thought that there may be a newer one as the posts here indicated such.

[eddyc]

I wouldn't bother discussing this, some memebers get upset whilst the mods delete your posts.... even if you are merley trying to help.

[leco]

OK I'll stop

[ZeroHour]

I wouldn't bother discussing this, some memebers get upset whilst the mods delete your posts.... even if you are merley trying to help.

 

Thats a little harsh tbh. Russdev hid the posts then as it was a copy and paste which means we are *technically* publishing it thus leading to us have to deal with complaints. It was fair to hide the posts until some sort of public domain information came out and even now its not fully publicised/clear. The user who responded to you simply asking you if you were sure you were allowed to post it was not having a go at you, they were just asking....

I am surprised you posted this as its rather bitter for something that was reasonable to do and done in a straightforward manor.

[Marci]

@leco - bookmarks for ya:

 

YHGfL - YHGfL

eNews

 

...but I too can find no mention of it on there.

[eddyc]

NEW Electronic letter <---- This can be found by doing a google search and the information contained within is already within the public domain.

[LeMarchand]

Without going into any detail, would people feel morally correct to continue using the resources?

 

I wouldn't (not that I use them!), but at least one teacher I spoke to would and some (though I did see one who was appalled that most of the others were desperately downloading everything they could) on the TES site would.

 

I'm not publicising the news until the LEA does (if they do).

[synaesthesia]

I've decided to let a couple of my schools know who use it more heavily to "expect it to be closed down in the near future pending a police investigation".

 

In the meantime, short of chancing luck with various google hits, I'd like to be able to present some alternatives. Other than primaryresources.co.uk and goodmorningchildren.co.uk does anyone else have some useful sites?

[AyatollahPies]

Would it be too much to ask for Ed Balls and his department to make a statement on this?

 

Still seems to be just Broadband providers/LEAs that are having to take their own actions, whereby this clearly needs addressing at a higher level. If for nothing else but a consistent approach.

[witch]

We have received a statement from SWGfL advising us of the situation and asking us to think seriously about using Sparklebox. It is unblocked in both my schools and I need to speak to SMT about it

[LeMarchand]

I just walked past the teacher who hasn't got a problem with the source of the resources, who happened to be singing the site's praises to a student teacher. I mentioned that it was likely that the site possibly wouldn't be around long, and her reaction was anger that the resources would not be available rather than disgust at the reason!

[synaesthesia]

I think said teacher's priorities are in the wrong place. Essentially the use of the site is contributing to the means for this person to commit his alleged crimes.

[localzuk]

I've sent out an edict stating that until such a time that the SWGfL determines that the site is ok, it remains blocked and all their tools (such as the toolbar) are not allowed on any of our computers.

 

It is just not worth risking! Imagine if the toolbar had screen grabbing abilities built in? So, someone has IE open in the background, and it is snapping away, taking screenshots whilst the teacher works on SIMS.net etc...

[powdarrmonkey]

Would it be too much to ask for Ed Balls and his department to make a statement on this?

 

Yes. Filtering policy at such a fine level should be a local decision for the LEAs and schools to make. A statement from the DCSF would be inappropriate if there is a police investigation (or at least, it would contain nothing useful or interesting while it is ongoing, so no politician is going to risk opening debate before they have something to say).

[Sylv3r]

Durham LA have also blocked this site for the reasons I am sure many of you are aware of at RBC level.

 

For those schools wishing to have more info, please check the Durham Schools Extranet (the last time I looked it was working lol).

[GrumbleDook]

We are presently reviewing this in Northamptonshire and will advise schools within the next few days.

[sparkeh]

Talking to our LA, something should come out from embc soon.

[AyatollahPies]

Yes. Filtering policy at such a fine level should be a local decision for the LEAs and schools to make. A statement from the DCSF would be inappropriate if there is a police investigation (or at least, it would contain nothing useful or interesting while it is ongoing, so no politician is going to risk opening debate before they have something to say).

 

The sheer fact that there is a Police investigation regarding a website used in schools throughout the whole country, suggests to me that it should not be a local decision.

[LosOjos]

The sheer fact that there is a Police investigation regarding a website used in schools throughout the whole country, suggests to me that it should not be a local decision.

 

I completely agree. The repercussions from this could be huge...

[contink]

Just to note a vote of thanks for sharing the information.

 

Doubtless this is going to upset some teachers but as noted earlier... The ends does not justify the means in this case...

[Face-Man]

This is the quote just issued by the LGFL

 

“It is understood that a person who is on record as an owner and director of Sparklebox Teacher Resources Limited (which appears to claim ownership of the SparkleBox web site and children’s learning materials) is a registered sex offender who has recently admitted a second offence, is currently on remand in prison and is awaiting sentence in January.

 

LGfL Trust has been unable to disclose information before now because to do so may have prejudiced police work and risked possible legal action, however this statement is issued subsequent to appropriate legal advice.

 

In the current circumstances the LGfL will continue to block sparklebox.co.uk, by default, unless and until satisfied that suitable safeguarding arrangements have been made.

 

LGfL connected schools have the ability, (at LA or school level), through LGfL URL filtering administration settings, either to accord with or to override the default LGfL policy in respect to a particular site. It is recommended that schools should only override any filter after due consideration of a website-specific school risk analysis and risk management plan.”

[SimpleSi]

This is the quote just issued by the LGFL

 

Do you have a reference to the source for this quote please?

 

regards

 

Simon

[Pickle]

Hi,

 

New here so need to post to say hi before I can post links

[Pickle]

Here is a link to the statement:

HGfL - Main - News Centre

 

Click on the link at the bottom that says view item

 

 

A newspaper report:

Shamed teacher posts bizarre note on website - Leamington Spa Today - Back to Home Page

 

A pic of him as Sparklebox:

Meine Fotos: Fotogalerie - Foto 1 von 1 von THRE3-D - MySpace Fotos

[Mr.Ben]

Some teaching staff have unfiltered access to the web here, but no access to install programs or run anything not specifically allowed in group policy.

 

Since I made the letter from the SWGfL public, use has dropped to almost zero. However, I did come across one teacher using it today, who at least made me smile, but he did have a point.

 

'Using sparklebox is like listening to a Micheal Jackson record - Great music, but thinking about the man behind it makes you feel guilty'

 

There is a lot a reliance on the materials from sparklebox here, and obviously that will drop. The problem is that the materials are actually quite good, we have never installed the toolbar.

 

Hopefully it will be put out of commision soon, but in the meantime i'm getting all of the resources from it (as part of a team of staff each doing a bit) and we will host them internally. I won't be checking for updates.

 

As with Micheal Jackson - the music's not to blame, the man is.