Frances Thomas

“I heard evidence that the Department of Education have devolved responsibility for e-security systems with schools having to 'tender' for web filtering software and hardware. However, the guidelines issued by the Department of Education require updating and are insufficiently robust to ensure their effectiveness and meet the changing demands of e-security in schools.”

“There is a wide range of software vendors providing different lists of blocklists with different vendors enabling different categories with no oversight or regulatory guidance by the Department of Education as to what 'blocklists' are either acceptable and/or suitable for a school environment.”

“Furthermore, there is inadequate independent scrutiny by to remove age inappropriate stories put on their platform.”

“Some websites are only blocked when there is a particular key word in the URL If the relevant trigger word (e.g. ) is not there it makes it difficult for the filter to 'see' the content of the website to be able to block it, hence why stories on could be read. However, there are software systems available that acts as a 'key logger' and 'screen reader'. Whilst this will not block the site it will generate a report to the nominated safeguarding individual for further action. Yet it has not been considered”

“In summary, on the evidence I heard there appears to be inadequate regulatory oversight with now outdated guidance issued by the Department of Education with regard to robust standards of e-security systems within schools.”