3. The safe use of new technologies, Ofsted, Feb, 2010
Key points
• Training of staff was a key weakness in many of the schools
inspected. Schools need a systematic and comprehensive programme.
• Any policies need to be reviewed periodically to keep them up to
date with technological changes. This reviewing process should
include parents, students and governors as well as teaching staff
• Locked down systems actually expose students to significantly more
risk as they do not help students to learn how to be responsible
users.
• Education should be central to the school’s eSafety policy. This
programme should be consistent and systematic and regularly
reviewed and updated.
• The school needs to consider groups with additional needs to help
them be safe and responsible users of new technologies.
• Parents, students and governors as well as teaching staff should be
fully engaged in drawing up an eSafety policy. Keeping students safe
is not the singular responsibility of one member of staff, but instead a
shared responsibility for all the staff in the institution.
• Schools should capitalise on the opportunities that new
technologies offer and that these technologies are central to 21st
century learning.
