Social Media and Networking Policy

Brackenhill Primary School Social Media and Networking Policy

Rationale and Aims of the Policy

There are a wealth of social media tools accessible that allow users to interact with each other in a variety of ways. While recognising the benefits of these media for new opportunities for communication, this policy sets out the principles that Brackenhill Primary School staff and contractors are expected to follow when using social media. It is crucial that pupils, parents and the public have confidence in the school’s decisions and services. The principles set out in this policy are designed to ensure that staff members use social media responsibly so that confidentiality of pupils and other staff and the reputation of the school and Bradford Council are safeguarded. This policy applies to Brackenhill Primary School governing body, all teaching and other staff, external contractors providing services on behalf of the school, teacher trainees and other trainees, volunteers and other individuals who work for or provide services on behalf of the school. These individuals are collectively referred to as ‘staff members’ in this policy.

This policy applies to personal webspace such as social networking sites (for example Facebook, MySpace), blogs, mircoblogs such as Twitter, chatrooms, forums, podcasts, and content sharing sites such as flickr and YouTube. The internet is a fast moving technology and it is impossible to cover all circumstances or emerging media – the principles set out in this policy must be followed irrespective of the medium.

Principles of the Use of Social Media  Staff members must be conscious at all times of the need to keep their personal and professional lives separate. Staff members should not put themselves in a position where there is a conflict between their work for the school or Council and their personal interests. Staff members must not engage in activities involving social media which might bring Brackenhill Primary School or Bradford Council into disrepute.  Staff members must not represent their personal views as those of Brackenhill Primary School or Bradford Council on any social medium.  Staff members must not discuss personal information about pupils, Brackenhill Primary School or Bradford Council staff and other professionals they interact with as part of their job on social media.  Staff members must not use social media and the internet in any way to attack, insult, abuse or defame pupils, their family members, colleagues, other professionals, other organisations, Brackenhill Primary School or Bradford Council.

1 Reviewed 2013 10 Staff Personal Use of Social Media

 Staff members must not have contact through any personal social medium with any pupil from Brackenhill Primary School. Staff members must not have any contact with pupils’ family members through personal social media if that contact is likely to constitute a conflict of interest or call into question their objectivity.  No pupil under 13 should be accessing social networking sites. This is the guidance from both Facebook and other sites. Staff members must decline ‘friend requests’ from pupils they receive in their personal social media accounts. Instead, if they receive such requests from pupils who are under the age of 13, they must take a print out of the page, ignore the request and inform Senior Leadership as soon as possible (next working day or phone call to SLT if during holiday)  Photographs, videos or any other types of image of pupils and their families must not be published on personal webspace.  School email addresses and other official contact details must not be used for setting up personal social media accounts or to communicate through such media.  Staff members are expected to devote their contracted hours of work to their professional duties and personal use of the internet is not permitted during working hours.  Caution is advised when inviting work colleagues to be ‘friends’ on personal social networking sites. Social networking sites blur the line between work and personal lives and it may be difficult to maintain professional relationships if too much personal information is known in the work place.  Staff members are strongly advised to ensure that they set the privacy levels of their personal sites as strictly as they can and to opt out of public listings on social networking sites to protect their own privacy. Staff members should keep their passwords confidential, change them often and be careful about comments, photographs and videos that are posted online; it is not safe to reveal home addresses, telephone numbers and other personal information.  On leaving Brackenhill Primary School’s service, staff members must not attempt to contact Brackenhill pupils by means of personal social media sites. Similarly, staff members must not contact pupils from their former schools by means of personal social media.

Use of Social Media on Behalf of Brackenhill Primary School

 Staff members can only use official school sites for communicating with pupils or to enable pupils to communicate with one another, for example school blogs. Official school sites and networking accounts may only be created with permission from the Headteacher.

Breaches of the Policy

 Any breach of this policy may lead to disciplinary action being taken against the staff member/s involved in line with Brackenhill Primary School and Bradford Council’s Disciplinary Policy and Procedure.

2 Reviewed 2013 10  A breach of this policy leading to breaches of confidentiality, or defamation or damage to the reputation of Brackenhill Primary School or Bradford Council or any illegal acts or acts that render Brackenhill Primary School or Bradford Council liable to third parties may result in disciplinary action or dismissal.

 Contracted providers of Brackenhill Primary School or Bradford Council services must inform the relevant school or Council officer immediately of any breaches of this policy so that appropriate action can be taken to protect confidential information and limit the damage to the reputation of the school and Bradford Council. Any action against breaches should be according to contractors’ internal disciplinary procedures.

Guidance/protection for Pupils on using social networking

 No pupil may access social networking sites during the school day and pupils’ mobile telephones are not permitted on school premises.

 No pupil should attempt to join a staff member’s areas on networking sites. If pupils attempt to do this, the member of staff is to inform the Head teacher. Parents will be informed if this happens.

 No school devices are to be used to attempt to access social networking sites at any time of day as per the Pupil Acceptable Use Policy.

 Any attempts to breach firewalls will result in a ban from using school ICT equipment other than with close supervision.

Cyber-bullying

 Pupils should report any improper contact or cyber bullying to their class teacher in confidence.

 Brackenhill Primary School has a zero tolerance to cyber bullying and any reported incidences will be investigated in accordance with the school’s Anti-Bullying Policy. Use of social networking sites to harass, bully or intimidate would be covered by this irrespective of when/where the post was made.

Child Protection Guidance

If the head teacher receives a disclosure that an adult employed by the school is using a social networking site in an inappropriate manner they should:

 Record the disclosure in line with their child protection policy and refer as appropriate.

 If the disclosure has come from a parent, take normal steps to calm the parent and explain processes.

 If disclosure comes from a member of staff, try to maintain confidentiality wherever possible.

 If disclosure is from a child, follow your normal process in your Child Protection Policy until the police investigation has been carried out.

3 Reviewed 2013 10 Chair of Governors______Date______

Headteacher______Date______

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