Select Committee on Health Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence


APPENDIX 64

Letter from Stephen Twigg MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools to the Clerk of the Committee (SH160)

When Hazel Blears and I gave evidence to the Health Committee on 23 January the issue of pupils having access to appropriate internet websites to enable them to find information about sex education and sexual health was raised. Concern was expressed that such sites may be barred and access denied as a result of schools' policies for screening inappropriate sites. I agreed to write in response to this issue.

The Internet and related technologies are powerful tools for learning and the communication of information. To use these technologies effectively requires an awareness of the benefits and risks, and an understanding of their appropriate use both in and outside the classroom. All schools have a responsibility to filter both access at school and any access pupils are given as part of home-school links. Filtering systems prevent or block users' access to unsuitable material. When the filtering system is turned on, users cannot open or link to sites that it recognises as unsuitable. Schools should consider the appropriateness of any filtering process they apply. Most do recognise that a blanket approach to filtering on websites which contain words such as sex might mean that some educational sites are filtered out. Most schools do research for good educational sites that touch on topics such as sex and consider the general content of such websites before deciding whether to filter them out from the school system.

Guidance for schools on internet safety, including filtering, is available on a website at http://safety.ngfl.gov.uk and in hard copy. Should you require a hard copy, please do not hesitate in contacting Sue Pentland (PSHE and Citizenship Team) on tel: 0207 273 5133, or via email at sue.pentland@dfes.gsi.gov.uk

3 February 2003


 
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