John Collings

Acting Executive Director of Children's Services

Civic Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8PU

www.newcastle.gov.uk

Ref: / / /foi 1963

This matter is being dealt with by:

Linda Mason Head of Integrated Targeted Services

Tel: 0191 211 5301

Date: 26 November 2009

Email: [FOI #21604 email]

Dear Ms Fitzsimons

Freedom of Information

I refer to your FOI request of 22 October 2009 regarding the use of the Internet in schools and pupil safety. First please accept my apologies for the delay. I had to collate this information from a number of sources.

Within your schools is there a specific programme aimed at teaching children about staying safe online, including cyber bullying been integrated into the curriculum?

We have two methods of training staff and children about staying safe on line.

One method is through the ICT national strategy consultants who have provided training as per the attachment.

The second method is via our anti-bullying team RESPONSE. Their training sessions are as outlined below. For the period January 2008 - March 2009.

If yes, who is responsible for delivery and what accreditations/training have they received? For example, teacher, CEOP trained ambassador.

Both staff involved in the RESPONSE training are CEOP Ambassadors.

One of the ICT National Strategy staff is a CEOP Ambassador. All of the other staff are CEOP trained.

If yes, how often is internet safety training integrated into the school curriculum, i.e. weekly, monthly etc

This information varies depending on individual schools and is not recorded by the Council.

If no, what steps/timeframes are being taken for implementation?

Not applicable.

2. Internet Filtering

Do the primary and secondary schools within your authority have internet filtering in place?

If yes, what tools do you use? For example Hardware or Software?

If yes, what is the name of your internet filtering supplier and when was their contract last renewed/due for renewal?

All schools within the Authority have internet filtering in place via a centralised proxy solution. Currently this is a Blue Coat Web filter appliance. However, we have recently procured a Websense solution (on a 3 year contract) as a replacement, which we are in the process of implementing.

3. Internet Filtering Breaches

Have any of the Schools within the past 24 months experienced a breach of Internet Filtering where children were able to access pornography or Indecent images. Please provide details of School Type(Primary or Secondary), Date of Breach and Type of Unsuitable material accessed.

If a breach of security occurred how was your authority notified? For example, by a parent, by the school, through an automated alert provided by hardware/software supplier.

ICT Services (Schools) do not keep this information. However, it may be available from individual schools.

If you are unhappy with the information supplied you can ask for an internal review of our decision. Please send details of your request for review to the following address:

Corporate Information Governance Officer
Chief Executive's Office
Civic Centre
Barras Bridge
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE99 2BN
Telephone: 0191 211 6644
E-mail: [Newcastle upon Tyne City Council request email]

If you are still unhappy with how the Council has handled your request you can write to the Information Commissioner asking for an assessment to be made. Contact details are as follows:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545745
E-mail: [email address]

Please contact me on the above telephone number if you wish to discuss this matter.

Yours sincerely

Linda Mason

Head of Integrated Targeted Services