How to review your ICT and internet acceptable use policy

Find out what questions you can ask when reviewing your school's/trust's ICT and internet acceptable use policy. Read our model policy to see what good looks like, and see examples from other schools and trusts.

Last reviewed on 31 January 2024See updates
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Contents
  1. Key facts
  2. Key points to look out for
  3. 4 questions to challenge the policy
  4. Take a look at a model policy
  5. See examples from schools/trusts

Key points to look out for

When you're reading your school's/trust's ICT and internet acceptable use policy, look out for:

  • Clear expectations on how everyone in your community, including parents and carers, should communicate online
  • A list of what constitutes unacceptable use and how users will be sanctioned for it
  • Rules on using personal devices for both pupils and staff, and guidelines for staff social media use
  • The arrangements and rules around remote access, if your school/trust offers this
  • An explanation of how the network and ICT facilities will be monitored and filtered
  • A clear process for when and how pupils' devices may be searched. This includes who's authorised to carry out searches and what will happen if they find inappropriate material

4 questions to challenge the policy

You'd expect an answer to explain how the policy has been