What is your school policy for pupils who access porn?

[woody]

Hi,

 

just wanted to know what procedures you have in place when a pupil deliberately finds porn on the net???

 

Is there a progressive sequence of action? Do you think your SMT take it seriousley enough?

 

Or do you get the same as me "Oh well, boys will be boys"

 

Let me know what you do at your school.

[ConTheITGuy]

We had one incident toward the end of last term - the user in question had his account disabled for the rest of the year (which was about 3 weeks). There's no procedure in place - there probably should be.

 

Andy.

[russdev]

we are working o procueure now but as rule we disable account and then talk to them, form tutor and anyone else we need to and then a letter goes home explaining why they have be banned from accessing computers.

 

but as said we are working on have first time so many weeks, second time so many weeks etc etc

 

Russ

[ninjabeaver]

It's not that common here, but it does happen and the consequences are severe. SMT gets involved straight away, and the parents are usually called in from home. The student is suspended and the account blocked, unless in an ICT lesson. The message soon gets round and we don't see anything for a few months. Then it happens all again.

 

Rinse and Repeat.

 

The main problem we are having now are the sicko pics of crash victims, hangings etc.

 

It really depends on the level of pornographic material i.e. soft or hard to what action is taken.

[SteveT]

Any contravention of AUP and account is closed. Not reinstated until parents have been into school with student to be seen by Head.

 

When this policy was first implemented, guess who was the first person to fall foul of this policy?

 

MY SON!!!!!!!! :oops: 8O

 

Not porn I haten to add, but finishing homework for another subject in IT lesson!!!

[russdev]

lol

 

i can imagine comments around the school that day

 

russ

[StewartKnight]

This goes straight to the deputy head, who really gives them a good savaging (the kids are scared to death of her!!), then the offending article is sent to the parent(s) to show them what a naughty boy (or girl) they are!

[GrumbleDook]

We are trying to get it so that the teacher is seen to be dealing with discipline issues and not just passing the buck to us for these things.

 

For Porn the students logs are checked to see what they have been accessing in general, how much surfing / working they are doing. There accounts are frozen and the teacher speaks to the tutor. The tutor will either contact the parent, or if it is a repeat offence then the head of year does it.

 

Because I am aware of it (a full access log check has to be cleared through me) then SLT are aware and if it is needed then it goes to the head of the pastoral side of things (another asst head).

 

Depending on the nature of the porn results in either prevention from using the internet/email but can still use computers so they *have* to complete their work (usually 2 weeks for a first time, and then increasing after that), a complete ban on computer access in school (but that disrupts their lessons and punishes the teachers ... so we avoid that if we can), or exclusions of various lengths.

 

We do it through the teachers and tutors to make sure that the rest of their attitude and work is taken into account. It also stops the support team from looking like the thought police and it means people find us approachable.

 

I never want this school to get like my last one ... I was known as the IT Troll or Satan, and people would only see one technician ... until he learnt the trade too and gave them short thrift.

 

We had students (and staff) that would have a problem for a whole term before coming to see us to fix it.

 

A certain amount of awe and fear is needed ... but not outright wetting themselves (long story ...)

[StewartKnight]

yes, I forgot to mention they get an internet ban (I have a spreadsheet setup, so if they get a second ban, I know it has to be longer)

 

Internet bans are also for downloading music & games.

 

Anyone caught trying to "hack" the system is banned from the computers altogether

[MkII]

The incident is reported to SMT who have a standard letter to go home, and I disable the account until instructed to re-enable. For some repeat offenders I also set logon hours restrictions as well.

 

We've been really successful with this, it's now just the year 7's as they come in we have to sort - but once you get the ringleaders, the rest tend to follow.

 

It's shocking that kids will blatently download images to thier user area. I've just come across a year 7 pupil with 10 obscene pics there.

 

Trouble with blocking access is the kids juist get someone elses ;ogon details and go straight back on - as did the kid above.

[Ric_]

Had an incident a little like this at my last place - I just told the head and he got the kids parents in.

 

I seem to remember that there was one kid who got a complete ban from computers for several months - I bet his ICT lessons were fun

[russdev]

all our bans are complet bans on using computers and we tell staff if there is a problem send them to head of ict

 

russ

[Mango_RW]

send a copy of the offensive material home!

[woody]

What I mean though is that there is no official procedure coming down from government to deal with this problem. It is quite a serious one and could potentially have legal remifications.

 

As far as I know, ofsted don't check whether a school has an AUP in place for the school network/internet (correct me if this has changed) and I just think there should be some clearer guidelines because it does seem that some schools treat this less harshly than others.

[MuppetQueen]

I have similar issues at my school.

 

Staff often send the culprit to me for a reprimand or ask me what they should do. When I refer to senior management they either do nothing or remove the students internet rights until it gets too inconvenient for the teaching staff (normally no more than a week) at which point I am asked to give them the rights back.

 

Result - I spend a silly amount of time giving/removing access and the students don't really see it as being serious.

 

Sorry, that wasn't very helpful but at least you are not alone - lol

[tarquel]

The pupil(s) usually get a telling off from the deputy head and we disable their account for a bit.

 

Unfortunately, I'd imagine they get their friends logon details [which teachers dont really mind as they want the work done etc] as it sometimes stays disabled for quite a while.

 

I know what you mean MuppetQueen, although it doesnt happen too offen with the county filtering system working pretty efficiently - regarding bad sites.

 

Anything else [like misuse of computers etc] doesnt get any specific ruling against it - varies every time [another thing that really annoys me]

 

I tried to bring up the AUP and got a cold response so after recent events here - its up to them if they want to help make it better.

 

Excuse the rant lol [as always]

 

Nath.

[Netman]

Ask them the addresses of the best sites !!!

[MkII]

We also have behavioral reports we can complete, which goes on the childs records.

 

Seems a shame that support staff are out of the loop with nearly everything to do with the nitty gritty.

 

I run an after school session 3 nights a week, alone. Several times i've had incidents that could've resulted in my dismissal. I don't know the procedures etc., so it's a big risk. Once a girl was the subject of staff briefings that she should not beleft alone with male staff, having several pending cases against staff in other schools, due to her promiscuity. She had been coming along after school for a week, and in class one day asked me in front of a teacher if the session was on that evening. The person took me aside and filled me in.

 

The kids think of us as teachers, and I think we should be included in training etc to deal with them effectively. Handing out detentions etc., and being part of disciplinary procedure.

[Ric_]

@mark: I was told in my last school to make sure that I never closed the door if I ended up alone in a classroom with a female pupil.

 

I've been told in my present position that, when working in the girls' changing room, I must keep the doors locked at all times - just in case some girl decides to walk in and take her clothes off.

 

Makes you think doesn't it!?!

 

I've made it a policy of mine not to supervise the kids - I'm not a teacher and I'm not paid to supervise children (I also have no trining in it) so I have found it easier to have a blanket policy that keeps me out of trouble.

[GrumbleDook]

What I mean though is that there is no official procedure coming down from government to deal with this problem. It is quite a serious one and could potentially have legal remifications.

 

As far as I know, ofsted don't check whether a school has an AUP in place for the school network/internet (correct me if this has changed) and I just think there should be some clearer guidelines because it does seem that some schools treat this less harshly than others.

 

OFSTED can check for an AUP.

It is part of Every Child Matters, the fact that you take reasonable effort to prevent a child from suffering from physical, sexual, emotional or neglectful abuse. Allowing a child to view pornographic pictures is taken as neglect on the part of the school. This is linked to the Child Protection Policy that your school should have. Speak with your Child Protection Officer to make sure he/she is aware that you have an AUP and what it contains. They can then write this into their documentation too.

 

If you remove all access to computers for a child you also have to show what the documented discipline procedure is and this may be seen to be excessive removal of access to facilities, preventing a student from continueing with their studies whilst a disciplinary action is taking place. (paraphrasing the Children's Act)

 

It is reasonable to presume that you can prevent a students accessing a computer to prevent them from removing evidence of actions they have commited actions against the school's agreed code of conduct or to prevent them destroying evidence that may be used in a criminal prosecution (again ... the Children's Act)

 

There is information out there but nothing tangible and you have to know the educational side of it too ... being honest you should ask your NUT rep. They will know the legalities .. and you just have to come up with a context you can both agree to before you document it and put it before the head and the governors.

 

It is the proverbial big umbrella ... if sh!t falls it will bounce away.

[GrumbleDook]

@mark: I was told in my last school to make sure that I never closed the door if I ended up alone in a classroom with a female pupil.

 

I've been told in my present position that, when working in the girls' changing room, I must keep the doors locked at all times - just in case some girl decides to walk in and take her clothes off.

 

Makes you think doesn't it!?!

 

I've made it a policy of mine not to supervise the kids - I'm not a teacher and I'm not paid to supervise children (I also have no trining in it) so I have found it easier to have a blanket policy that keeps me out of trouble.

 

All rooms that students enter should have a clear window, and if not then always leave the door open.

 

I hope to fit 2 network webcams after Christmas in the main office ... I just want to protect the team from any allegations ... and also protect them against unwanted advances too.

 

I would also recommend that all staff, teacher or otherwise, joins a union. If you can join a teaching union then you get a better deal when it comes to these things ... you just lose out when they come to argue about pay.

[mac_shinobi]

Ask them the addresses of the best sites !!!

 

lol @ netman

[kingswood]

I think I have mentioned this to Shane too- but the policy in our school states that if the student is seen accessing porn, or if we in the course of looking through web access logs find that a student has accessed porn, they are taken off the internet and sometimes (depending on the severity) the head of ICT takes it to the head and/or the parents.

 

@Tony:I have also been aware of the rule that when in a room on your own you always lock the door behind you. Teachers do it, and we aren't different. The idea about cameras is an excellent one Tony, and something I will look into for sure. Is there a good supplier of these that you have or are you just going to pick up some web-enabled cameras and use those?

 

Good topic- it's nice to know that I haven't exhibited paranoia on a grand scale! As a dad of two daughters though, I would love that staff in a a school took these kinds of measure: not only to sageguard themselves but also the students around them...

 

Paul

[russdev]

well one place use to work was the office was girls occker room (they were not meant to change there (but they did at times) and then office was right near loos as well (wasnt allowed to got hat way had to go long way around)

 

 

As for being involved in staff breifings while not made to do it (lsa and all new staff have it in there contract) I still go.

 

No member of staff should be excluded for the reason above.

[Sirbendy]

We do the SWS report, I then simplify and screenshot it, annotate it, remove the junk that SWS adds and package it for the deputy head, who takes it from there.

 

It creases me...female staff and female dep. head, and I hand them reports full of "animal, vegetable or mineral" porn (soft and hard), and I hear "oh my goodness!", or "I couldn't sleep after viewing that", or "oh my god"...

 

I can't say anything surprises of shocks me these days..I usually end up rotating the images and uttering "how the hell did they get into THAT position?..Interesting...". The looks I get..hahaha....