Possessions, technology and media
Whilst boarders are welcome to bring personal items from home, they and their families are asked to bear in mind the following: Technology is an area that is in constant evolution and it is increasingly difficult to monitor and police a child’s access to the World Wide Web, chat rooms and text messaging services. Unfortunately, the word ‘Cyber-bullying’ has become all too familiar and it is our concern for the safety and happiness of our boarders that has helped form our current policy on technology. Boarders are not permitted to access to Social Network sites, chat forums and text messaging services. Boarders are allowed to access the Internet and send and receive emails but this is always supervised and controlled by the school’s Bloxx Internet Security programme. The children learn about all types of bullying including cyberbullying during PSE lessons. We will constantly review this policy, just as the technology itself is constantly evolving.
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Mobile phones and Games consoles should not be brought into the House.
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Personal music players (Walkmans and MP3 players) are allowed.
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Internet-enabled devices (such as the iPod touch) are not permitted. MP3 players must be loaded with music or stories only; videos and films are not allowed.
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Valuable jewellery and watches should not be brought into the House.
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Valuable electronic equipment such as cameras, and speaker systems etc. should not be brought into the House.
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All items should be clearly named.
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Pinboards are provided for each boarder, and posters and other material for display may only be displayed on these boards. The Housemaster reserves the right to ask for items to be removed if he feels that they may cause offence.
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Stickers may not be put anywhere in the House.
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Sports equipment, including balls of any description, should not be brought into the House. There are plenty available at school and we do not have sufficient storage for them in the children’s dorms
Television
As a rule, there should be sufficient activities organised in the House for the children such that they should rarely feel the necessity to be watching television. However, it is understood that there will be times when children may need ‘down time’ and may wish to relax in front of the television. In such circumstances staff will monitor both programme content and viewing time.
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The watching of television is generally not permitted before supper, unless the weather is so inclement that playing outside is not possible.
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Staff will ensure that television programmes are appropriate for the children viewing them and that DVDs and videos are age appropriate.
I.T. Room
The I.T. room is available to children during prep times. Children do not have unsupervised access to this room or any other room where they may have computer access.
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Should the children wish to access the internet, permission must be requested from the supervising member of staff and details of the site that they wish to access should also be given.
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Supervising members of staff actively supervise the children’s use of the computers, circulating around the room to ensure that they are aware of what each child is doing.
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Children may use the I.T. room to access their school Gaggle email account, having sought permission. No other email accounts may be used by the children
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With the exception of approved educational websites, games may not be played during prep sessions in the I.T. room.
Access to Information through Newspapers and Electronic Media
Boarders are encouraged to access media through the use of ICT and the television. In addition, the Boarding House orders copies of weekend papers for delivery to Whitfield House and also copies of the magazine ‘The Week’ and ‘First News’; many boarders choose to read this publication during the 15 minutes prior to lights-out.
Use of technology on school trips out of the House
Mobile phones and games consoles may be taken on school trips, subject to the approval of the member of staff running the trip, and as long as they do not have access to the internet. If children wish to store their phones and/or consoles in the House for trips, they must be handed in to a member of staff and they will be kept safely and securely.
The use of personal games consoles on tours and trips is generally restricted to times of travel e.g. long coach journeys, flights and waiting at airports etc. Other than at these times, when they will be distributed to children by the staff, consoles tend to be kept by the supervising members of staff.
January 2013
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