Managing your Own Filtering Why a school should manage their own filtering Ian...

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Managing your Own Filtering Why a school should manage their own filtering Ian Gover igover @ somerset . gov . uk Christine Woodgate cwoodgate @ somerset . gov . uk

Transcript of Managing your Own Filtering Why a school should manage their own filtering Ian...

Page 1: Managing your Own Filtering Why a school should manage their own filtering Ian Goverigover@somerset.gov.ukigover@somerset.gov.uk Christine Woodgate cwoodgate@somerset.gov.ukcwoodgate@somerset.gov.uk.

Managing your Own Filtering

Why a school should manage their own filtering

Ian Gover [email protected] Christine Woodgate [email protected]

Page 2: Managing your Own Filtering Why a school should manage their own filtering Ian Goverigover@somerset.gov.ukigover@somerset.gov.uk Christine Woodgate cwoodgate@somerset.gov.ukcwoodgate@somerset.gov.uk.

How does the filter work at the moment?

The filtering software, which is included in the cost of belonging to the South West Grid for Learning (SWGfL), has three levels:

SWGfL Local Authority (LA) School

Items denied at the SWGfL or LA level can be allowed at the school level

Items allowed at the SWGfL or LA level can be denied at the school level

Page 3: Managing your Own Filtering Why a school should manage their own filtering Ian Goverigover@somerset.gov.ukigover@somerset.gov.uk Christine Woodgate cwoodgate@somerset.gov.ukcwoodgate@somerset.gov.uk.

The School Level?

The changes concern the School level filter.

The SWGfL and LA filter will remain in place for all schools.

No school will be allowed to access the Internet without filtering protection on their internet connection.

This change will not remove any of the protection that is already provided.

This change is to allow schools greater flexibility in the filtering of Internet sites for their school.

Page 4: Managing your Own Filtering Why a school should manage their own filtering Ian Goverigover@somerset.gov.ukigover@somerset.gov.uk Christine Woodgate cwoodgate@somerset.gov.ukcwoodgate@somerset.gov.uk.

Other features controlled at the school level

Times of the dayThe filter can be adjusted so that some sites can be opened at prescribed times of the day. This could be useful for clubs, or to allow teachers to complete work after school

Bypassing the filter completelySelected members of staff can be set up to have unfiltered access to the Internet

MonitoringInformation is available on which Internet sites have been visited by the school.

Page 5: Managing your Own Filtering Why a school should manage their own filtering Ian Goverigover@somerset.gov.ukigover@somerset.gov.uk Christine Woodgate cwoodgate@somerset.gov.ukcwoodgate@somerset.gov.uk.

The current situation

At the moment all Secondary, Middle schools and a few Primary schools already control their filter.

This provides them flexibility in how the internet is used - meaning that they can make changes quickly to protect users, allow sites to be opened to allow for the developing educational needs of their learners, monitor the sites used in the school and allow greater access for staff.

The majority of Primary schools have had the school level filter controlled by the Local Authority.

Page 6: Managing your Own Filtering Why a school should manage their own filtering Ian Goverigover@somerset.gov.ukigover@somerset.gov.uk Christine Woodgate cwoodgate@somerset.gov.ukcwoodgate@somerset.gov.uk.

The future situation

We would like all schools to control their own filtering utilising the easy to use SWGfL software giving them the flexibility outlined.

The SWGfL and LA will continue to support all schools in their use of the filtering software.

Page 7: Managing your Own Filtering Why a school should manage their own filtering Ian Goverigover@somerset.gov.ukigover@somerset.gov.uk Christine Woodgate cwoodgate@somerset.gov.ukcwoodgate@somerset.gov.uk.

The New Blue Book Offer

Because there will be some schools who will not want to control their filter at this time a new Blue Book option will provide them with the increased flexibility found in other schools.

This Blue Book option will provide: An automated system for requesting changes to the filtering. A five day response turnaround to adjusting the websites allowed or

denied at the school. The provision of Staff Proxies with permission from the Headteacher. A yearly monitoring report.

The cost of this service is £30 per academic year

Page 8: Managing your Own Filtering Why a school should manage their own filtering Ian Goverigover@somerset.gov.ukigover@somerset.gov.uk Christine Woodgate cwoodgate@somerset.gov.ukcwoodgate@somerset.gov.uk.

More Information

More information and support documentation can be found on the SomersetICT website

http://gotoourplace.com/somersetict