22 Oct 2019 07:00
AdEPT Technology Group PLC
("AdEPT" or the "Company")
AdEPT Improves Web Safety for 2 million Education Users
AdEPT Press Release
More control and protection delivered to schools across the UK in partnership with London Grid for Learning
The challenge
Schools in England centre their safeguarding efforts on the Department for Education statutory advice document 'Keeping Children Safe in Education' or KCSIE.
KCSIE makes clear that schools must have 'appropriate filtering', and the DfE recommends the UK Safer Internet Centre's definitions to help gauge what is appropriate.
This technology safeguards children, preventing them accessing inappropriate web content.
Where do AdEPT fit in?
WebScreen has long been one of AdEPT Education's flagship security and safeguarding tools.
It is a web filtering system designed for the education sector and used by more than 2 million users in around 3,000 schools across the UK, filtering over 1 billion web requests a day. This is one of the largest web filtering solutions in Europe. It is also the primary web filtering solution delivered as part of a London Grid for Learning connection, an organisation servicing 97% of London schools.
Helping Schools comply?
Both LGfL and AdEPT have submitted a self-certification to the safer internet centre which has been published on their website alongside those of all other 'appropriate' and school-safe filtering providers.
Schools can therefore rest assured, and can tell a visiting inspector, that this is one key way they know that they are helping keep children safe when they are online at school, and that the filtering is not just good enough, but made for children.
So, what's new?
The AdEPT development team have been working on enhancements to WebScreen for the last twelve months based on user feedback & AdEPT's own design thinking.
In the latest version, schools have;
·; more control - over their own filtering policies.
·; greater autonomy - moving away from Local Authority oversight to better reflect the changes in the education sector.
·; Enhanced functionality - that makes administrating filtering at Multi-academy trusts simpler and more effective.
·; Bespoke capability - with features to allow staff & students to gain a unique filtering policy as soon as they log into their computer.
·; Greater reporting functionality - that is easy to run with a simple 'four step wizard'.
Why is this important news?
After a positive reaction to the changes at the education in technology show, BETT the decision was made to upgrade the entire WebScreen estate during Easter of 2019.
Over a four-day (and night) period the team successfully migrated over 3,000 schools without any loss in filtering. The release has been positively received with feedback from users in schools being extremely positive.
Abid Patel, IT Director at the Leading Learning Trust, had this to say:
"The upgrade to WebScreen has been brilliant. Functionality that existed before the upgrade has been improved and new features have been added, which culminates in making the vital task of keeping children safe online that much easier."
Notes for journalists and editors-
For a full briefing please contact:
AdEPT Technology Group Plc Phil Race, Chief Executive Ben Rogers, Head of Marketing
Cantor Fitzgerald Europe Nominated Adviser & Broker Phil Davies/Will Goode
|
07798 575 338 01689 814 700
020 7894 7000 |
|
|
This announcement has been released by Ben Rogers, Head of Marketing, on behalf of the Company.
About AdEPT Technology Group plc:
AdEPT Technology Group plc is one of the UK's leading independent providers of managed services for IT, unified communications, connectivity and voice solutions. AdEPT's tailored services are used by thousands of customers across the UK and are brought together through the strategic relationships with tier-1 suppliers such as Openreach, BT Wholesale, Virgin Media, Avaya, Microsoft, Dell and Apple.
AdEPT is quoted on AIM, operated by the London Stock Exchange (Ticker: ADT). For further information please visit: www.adept.co.uk
About London Grid for Learning (LGfL):
The London Grid for Learning is a community of schools and local authorities committed to using technology to enhance teaching & learning, providing safe, high-speed broadband, managed network services and premium learning resources - which are a blend of commercially-licensed content and homegrown exclusives.
LGfL is a not for profit Charitable Trust. With objectives to; save Schools Money, Keep Children Safe, Tackle Inequality, Energise Teaching and Learning and Enhance Wellbeing.
LGfL was set up by the 33 London Boroughs in 2001 as a not-for-profit charitable trust and now provides services to 97% of London schools empowering substantial economies of scale.