E-Safety

Joint agreement on the use of electronic communication and social networking

All of our schools are committed to safeguarding and e-safety. It is recognised that the use of technology has greyed the barriers between home and school. Whilst trying to embrace new technologies for learning the following has been agreed by the following High Schools in South Norfolk in order to protect and support our students and staff.

Archbishop Sancroft High School
Attleborough High School
Diss High School
Hethersett
High School
Long Stratton High School
Old Buckenham High School
Wymondham High School

Electronic communication such as forums; e-mail; mobile technologies such as SMS, MMS; micro-blogging (such as Twitter) and Blogging (Blogspot) and especially chat/messaging and Social Networking (such as MSN, Skype, Facebook, Bebo) are an inevitable part of many students’ everyday lives. It is recognised that for the vast majority these sites and technologies are used in a proper and respectful manner. 

This agreement is made to deal with those instances where electronic communication has been used inappropriately, in order to ensure a united and consistent approach across the schools in our area. All those party to this agreement do so with the aim of ensuring that all students and staff are free to work in a safe environment where learning is central and not undermined.

Accordingly, any case of offensive, harmful, libellous or otherwise inappropriate postings/messages using any form of electronic communication which is directed towards any student, employee or Governor within the school community or the school itself will be treated as a very serious matter. In any such instance, the school to which the student belongs will trigger its discipline/behaviour policy, putting the individual at risk of fixed-term or permanent exclusion. Our schools will also co-operate and support each other on e-safety issues which affect each other, such as a posting by a student aimed at an individual in another school. Additionally external agencies, such as the police, may be called in to investigate the incident or to protect others. In serious cases where a crime has been considered to have been committed, prosecution of the individual could result.

Any questions or concerns relating to this agreement should be directed in the first instance to the Headteacher of the school concerned.