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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