Software will help protect web users

9:26am Tuesday 18th December 2007

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INNOVATIVE software is being introduced to Worcestershire's schools to protect the county's 80,000 pupils from cyber-bullying, inappropriate websites and predators.

The software, Policy Central Enterprise (PCE), was developed by e-safety specialist Forensic Software and will be used across the county to allow children to surf the internet safely.

PCE has been bought by Worcestershire County Council for the schools as part of its e-safety strategy and to enable schools to review current ICT acceptable use policies and update them in line with changing technology phenomenon such as instant messaging and social networking.

The software can monitor all inappropriate use of IT facilities by the county's school pupils once schools install the software on their systems. For example, it can pinpoint pupils accessing illegal websites, cyber-bullying or using inappropriate words or phrases in e-mails, instant messages, chat rooms and even Word and Excel documents. At the same time, pupils are fully protected from inappropriate behaviour directed towards them.

The software, installed in high schools and hosted centrally by the local authority for primary, middle and special schools, will also be up-and-running in foster homes and libraries in the near future.

James Green, teacher adviser for e-learning at Worcestershire Children's Services, said: "In the first instance, the software provides us with a stronger understanding of how our IT facilities are being used. Armed with this knowledge, each school has now developed an informed and robust IT acceptable use policy. Second, the software enables schools to monitor inappropriate computer and internet behaviour and act accordingly.

"From an internet only perspective, we want pupils to use popular public sites to access learning, but we want to make sure it is done in a responsible and safe manner. Teachers can now use the internet to teach more effectively."