Summary: The Broadband Sandwell content filter will be changed to a new system next week; this may temporarily affect the availability and/or blocking of some web-sites. Advice on the use of search engines.

The revision of the broadband network is underway and in particular many of its core functions are being changed to newer products and services. The content filter, next week, will be transferred from the current product 'Websense' to 'Netsweeper'. Owing to the merger last year of Synetrix Ltd with Equinox Ltd we are now able to reap the benefit of the latter company's expertise in supporting the London Grid for Learning. This has meant we have been able to significantly reduce the costs of some services because of our supplier's enhanced bulk purchasing power. 'Netsweeper' is a Canadian product and is very well regarded; like 'Websense' content is categorised (e.g.: adult, weapons, religion etc), however the categories do not exactly match those of 'Websense'. In addition, the list of blocked and allowed sites will differ slightly from those of 'Websense'.

The new content filter has been tested with the help of one of our High Schools, at the time of the test the filter was regarded as 'fierce', meaning more web-sites than anticipated were being blocked. Further work has been undertaken to remedy this but it is possible that from next week, schools may occasionally find they cannot access web-sites that were available previously and conversely some sites are accessible that were previously blocked (although this is less likely). If either of these situations arise in your school then please contact the Broadband Sandwell/EMU helpdesk (0121 569 2400) and log a request to adjust the content filter.

The 'Netsweeper' product will allow schools to manage their own individual filter policies if they so choose, otherwise there is a standard policy shared by all schools.

Other changes to the network will include:
1) A new version of the anti-virus protection system.
2) The replacement of the network caching engines - these are currently a product called 'Volera' and they will be replaced by newer systems.
3) The replacement of the email anti-virus/anti-spam protection system - the current product 'Clearswift' will be replaced by the same product that is used for the London Grid for Learning. Please note: this will work with email services located within the Broadband Sandwell network such as the 'Learning Gateway' but not with external email services such as the council's 'Webmail' service (which has its own protection system).
4) There will be improvements to better facilitate the provision of new broadband services including web-site hosting.

The migration plan for these services is intended to avoid disruption to the network; however there is a very slight risk of the occasional temporary impact upon services. Please report any problems promptly to our helpdesk.

Internet search engines
Several schools have raised concerns regarding the use of popular Internet search engines in the classroom. Seemingly innocuous searches are occasionally returning descriptions of offensive material. Furthermore, if facilities such as 'Google images' are used, then thumbnail images of explicit material may be seen. In each case, if the item is selected and 'clicked on', the network content filter in most cases prevents access to the web-site. However, it is the associated text or thumbnail image that is causing concern.

In the case of Google, we have previously advised that schools consider configuring their browsers to use the Google 'Safe search' option. This may be found under the 'preferences' button on the Google web page. This will help to address this problem; however it can just as easily be turned off.

Two further alternatives to consider using are -
1) The BBC search engine (www.bbc.co.uk <http://www.bbc.co.uk/> ), however it is important to select the correct button to search the web rather than just the BBC web site or BBC news. This appears to block search information that may be offensive.
2) 'Ask Jeeves' has a children's search engine www.ajkids.com  <http://www.ajkids.com/> which should filter most unsuitable material

Once again, you are reminded to be vigilant because no filtering system is entirely foolproof.

A few schools have indicated that they have been unsure whether to report some web sites, particularly 'pop up' pages because although their content may cause embarrassment they were not sexually explicit or otherwise offensive. Our advice is to report any web site that is inappropriate and/or makes staff or students uncomfortable or embarrassed.