Technology - More Information
New Bridge School is committed to providing the most innovative, creative and meaningful learning experience for all our young people, within all our schools.
iPads
iPads have been at the forefront of mobile device technology for many years, and we demonstrate our commitment by providing an iPad for all our young people and staff. We believe the iPad has the power to break down barriers to learning, provide opportunities to collaborate with others, support communication, and inspire creativity.
Our iPad vision statement is:
“We will support all young people, staff and families in their use of technology both throughout the learning time with us and to enable them with skills for their future destination."
Our aim is to empower all our young people to be able to access their learning in a way that works for them to meet their aspirational destination. We have some key goals we aim to achieve with the use of 1:1 iPad technology:
- To support teaching and learning
- Increase engagement and motivation to learn
- To inspire creativity
- Removing access barriers to learning through accessibility functions on iPad
- Provide augmentative and alternative methods of communication
- Provide dynamic and personalised learning experiences
- Provide remote learning for pupils not able to access school
- Provide opportunities for collaboration
- Develop problem-solving skills
- Support purposeful assessment and meaningful feedback
- Increase confidence levels with the use of technology
- Help efficiency in completing tasks
- Support communication with families, students and staffing teams
All iPads have access to a core suite of learning apps. Lessons can be structured with digital resources and shared with learners. Students can access their resources, return work and gain feedback via comments, annotations or voice notes. Learners with specific access needs can have their iPad customised using a range of inbuilt accessibility features, such as the magnifier, voice over or dictation, and even switches to support students’ physical access. Bespoke AAC (Augmented Alternative Communication) apps are also available to support communication.
Students are not allowed to take photos/videos of other young people on their iPad, without the permission of a member of staff. If there is a case for a collaborative learning project and photos or videos are taken, they must be supervised by the class Teacher and removed from the iPad as soon as the project has finished. Young people must never share, publish or distribute photos or videos of others, without permission of a member of staff.
Mobile Phones including smart watches and tablets
We recognise that families might want to be able to reach their child before and after school, for example if they are independent travellers. New Bridge School has taken the approach that students must not use a mobile phone anywhere in school during the school day. This includes other communication and smart technology, for example smart watches and tablets. Mobile devices will be handed in to pastoral staff when students enter the building and are locked away. They are returned at the end of the day.
Students must not photograph or record other students on their mobile phone or tablet, unless explicit permission is given by a member of staff. Students must not photograph staff without permission from a member of staff.
Parents wishing to contact their child during the school day should contact the school directly, please do not call or text your child. Students who need to contact parents during the school day should speak to their Form Tutor or a member of the pastoral team.
Mobile devices may be confiscated as part of investigations into behaviour or safeguarding incidents. Content on mobile devices will only be viewed in the presence of the student and only if appropriate. In certain circumstances mobile devices may be passed to the police. Parents will be notified if their child’s mobile device has been confiscated.
School staff have the specific power under the Education and Inspections Act 2006 (which has been increased by the Education Act 2011) to search for and, if necessary, delete inappropriate images or files on pupils’ electronic devices, including mobile phones, iPads and other tablet devices, where they believe there is a ‘good reason’ to do so. When deciding whether there is a good reason to examine or erase data or files on an electronic device, staff must reasonably suspect that the data or file in question has been, or could be, used to:
- Cause harm, and/or
- Disrupt teaching, and/or
- Break any of the school rules
If inappropriate material is found on the device, it is up to the staff member in conjunction with the DSL or other member of the senior leadership team to decide whether they should:
- Delete that material, or
- Retain it as evidence (of a criminal offence or a breach of school discipline), and/or
- Report it to the police*
Staff may also confiscate devices for evidence to hand to the police, if a pupil discloses that they are being abused and that this abuse includes an online element.
New Bridge School cannot accept any responsibility for the loss of mobile devices which have been brought onto school premises and not handed in. Please note it is your young person’s responsibility for their mobile phone. Please note the school cannot accept any liability should property be lost or damaged whilst attending school.
This information takes into account the New Bridge School Behaviour Policy, which is available on our website, the DfE 2024 Mobile Phones in Schools and the DfE 2024 Keeping Children Safe in Education.
Online Safety
New Bridge School adopts a range of methods when tackling online safety. Online safety messages is a focus across all areas of the curriculum, but specifically in RSE and computing lessons.
At New Bridge School through their ICT lessons, pupils undertake an online safety scheme of work which covers a range of topics including a range of scenarios where learners are asked to explain how they would respond. The aim of the scheme is to look at the risks/benefits of technology/online services, the impact using technology/online services, how individuals are affected by negative interactions online and how to avoid risks and keep their data/online presence secure. Covered topics include:
- Cyberbullying
- Social Networks
- Communicating Online
- Personal Information and Digital Footprint
- Using the internet safely
- Passwords
We are very proud of our approach to tackling this important issue. As part of our in-house curriculum, and with the support of parents, we believe that the course is giving our learners the skills in education to help them tackle the issues they face in the wider world.
Furthermore, we ensure that all our students take part in Safer Internet Day each year to help promote positive use of technology and the internet.
A copy of the e-safety policy can be found on our website here .
New technologies have become integral to the lives of children and young people today, both within schools and in their lives outside school.
The internet and other digital and information technologies are powerful tools, which open new opportunities for everyone. Electronic communication helps all staff and young people learn from each other. These technologies can stimulate discussion, promote creativity, and increase awareness of context to promote effective learning. Children and young people should always have an entitlement to safe internet access. With this all our young people are responsible for using the school ICT systems in accordance with the Young Person Acceptable Use Agreement, which will need to be signed and returned to school before your child can be given access to the school ICT systems.
Photographs and Videos
Whilst many parents and carers really enjoy seeing photos and videos of their children’s school life, we are very mindful of our duty of care towards all our students. We take the issue of safeguarding very seriously and this includes the use of photographic and video images.
Any photographs or videos taken by parents, carers and relatives at school productions, sports days or other events are for the enjoyment of individual families. They must not be used in any way that could potentially place a child at risk. This would include publishing images in any form of print or on the internet, including social networking sites. This is emphasised before events such as concerts and shows and, where practical, a record of parents and relatives taking photographs or videos is made.
We understand that in exceptional circumstances a parent or carer may not wish their child to be photographed or videoed in this way. If this is the case, please contact the Head of Site to discuss how this can be best achieved.
Occasionally, the local press is invited to take photographs of events and special achievements. We like to use photographs of our children on our website, in school documents, for parent information meetings, newsletters and on our display screens around college. If you do not wish photographs of your child to be used for these purposes, please contact the Head of Site.
In order to ensure we safeguard students, and comply with the Data Protection Act 2018, which is the UK’s implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we need your permission before we can photograph or make any recordings of your child for promotional purposes.
