Curricular issues
In association with curricular delivery in school, there is a need to educate pupils about appropriate internet use.
Access policies should take into account the different requirements of different user groups across the curriculum, which will vary according to age, level, subject and task. For example, there might be a genuine need for some students to research information about the Nazis and racism for curricular purposes.
Guidance for use of internet search engines should make pupils aware of the effectiveness of different search methods and choice of terms, and the possibility of being presented with website listings that include inappropriate sites.
There are resources online which may assist schools to teach appropriate skills and understanding. The Becta Internet Proficiency scheme provides materials designed for use with children aged 8-11 years and an interactive CyberCafe game where pupils can explore internet safety topics. The Kidsmart site offers resources and ideas for educating children about safe behaviour online.
Schools should ensure that internet safety issues are not seen purely as the concern of ICT coordinators or computing teachers, but are an issue for teachers and staff across the curriculum and the whole school. For example, in primary schools, internet safety fits well with personal safety themes as part of a school's education programme to develop pupils' personal and social skills. Curricular projects that require collaboration or publication of information online should make use of group or project email accounts, rather than individual named user accounts, to preserve the privacy of personal information.
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