Home : Public Sector : News

Staffordshire County Council signs schools e-safety deal

Staffordshire County Council is rolling an e-monitoring tool out this month to nearly 400 schools to safeguard pupils’ safety while online.

By Miya Knights, 6 Jan 2009 at 12:33

gallery

Staffordshire County Council today announced it is rolling out computer monitoring systems in its schools.

The contract, awarded to software provider Securus, in collaboration with UK education software, services and systems supplier RM, will see its e-safety software implemented in nearly 400 primary and secondary schools across the county this month.

The system, which monitors computers in schools and provides alerts if pupils place themselves or others in danger, highlights inappropriate language and captures screenshot evidence if pupils use bullying or threatening behaviour; inappropriate internet sites; or computers for unacceptable personal use during lessons. It also identifies potentially harmful situations, such as internet grooming.

The Securus implementation is part of the authority’s wider commitment to e-safety, where its Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) works with partners to adopt a strategic approach to e-safety that protects and educates children, young people and parents.

Staffordshire County councillor and cabinet member for children and young people, Peter Beresford, stated: “It is imperative that our schools and other agencies that are involved in the protection of children have the appropriate processes and resources in place to effectively identify and respond to e-safety issues.

“Securus is one of the resources that will help Staffordshire County Council achieve its e-safety aims, and in time we endeavour to roll this computer monitoring solution out further to other settings, including libraries and youth centres.”

The system has already been adopted by a number of schools in Staffordshire and the vendor said that the extension of its implementation to another 386 schools was a major achievement.

The software can also notify schools of potentially harmful situations, such as signs of depression or suicide; predator grooming; sexual, racial or religious harassment; drugs, pornography or gambling.