ICT in the 21st century is an essential resource to support teaching and learning, as well as playing an important role in the everyday lives of children, young people and adults.  Consequently, schools need to build in the use of these technologies in order to arm our young people with the skills to access life-long learning and employment.

Information and Communications Technology covers a wide range of resources including web-based and mobile learning.  It is also important to recognise the constant and fast paced evolution of ICT within our society as a whole.  Currently the internet technologies children and young people are using both inside and outside of the classroom include:

• Websites

• E-mail and Instant Messaging

• Chat Rooms and Social Networking

• Blogs and Wikis

• Podcasting

• Video Broadcasting

• Music Downloading

• Gaming

• Mobile/Smart phoneswith text, video and/ or web functionality

• Other mobile devices with web functionality

Whilst exciting and beneficial both in and out of the context of education, much ICT, particularly web-based resources, are not consistently policed.  All users need to be aware of the range of risks associated with the use of these internet technologies.

At The Ramsey Academy we understand the responsibility to educate our students on e-safety issues; teaching them the appropriate behaviours and critical thinking skills to enable them to remain both safe and legal when using the internet and related technologies, in and beyond the context of the classroom.

Everybody in the school has a shared responsibility to secure any sensitive information used in their day-to-day professional duties and even staff not directly involved in data handling should be made aware of the risks and threats and how to minimise them.

To download a full copy of the policy click the link below.