1.1 This policy aims to outline the responsibilities of students when accessing social media either personally or using it for College purposes and to ensure that its use is appropriate, to avoid bringing the College into disrepute. The policy is in line with wider College policy related to acceptable behaviour, namely Safeguarding Policy, Student Code of Conduct, Anti-Bullying Policy, Student Behaviour/ Expectations Policy and the Acceptable Use of IT Policy.
1.2 social media is the term used to describe the online tools, websites, platforms and interactive media that enable users to interact with each other in various ways, through sharing information, opinions, knowledge and interests.
1.3 The College recognises the value that social media can have to a student’s studies if used in a responsible and professional way. While it is recognised that students are entitled to a private life, the College is committed to maintaining confidentiality and professionalism at all times whilst also upholding its reputation by ensuring students and employees exhibit acceptable behaviours and are fully informed at all times about their rights and responsibilities for their own protection.
2.1 This policy applies to all students at the College. There is a similar Policy which applies to Staff.
2.2 Individuals are personally accountable for their behaviour and may be held liable for any breaches of this policy. All students are therefore expected to support the College’s policy on social media.
3.1 College – The Sixth Form, Bolton
4.1 Legislation
The College will adhere to its obligations under the legislation relevant to the use and monitoring of electronic communications, which are predominantly the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000; the Telecommunications (Lawful Business Practice) (Interception of Communications) Regulations 2000; the Communications Act 2003; GDPR; the Protection from Harassment Order 1998 and the Equality Act 2010.
5.1 Computers are the property of the College and are primarily designed to assist in the performance of education and business duties. To ensure appropriate use of the internet, the College’s internet software and SmoothWall interface monitors all websites visited by students and their keystrokes. Therefore, students should have no expectation of privacy when it comes to the sites they access from College computers and devices.
5.2 The College may exercise its rights to intercept internet access under the Telecommunications (Lawful Business Practice) (Interception of Communications) Regulations 2000 for the following business reasons:
To establish the existence of facts relevant to the College’s business.
To ascertain compliance with regulatory practices or procedures relevant to the College.
To ensure that students using the system are achieving the standards required.
To prevent or detect crime.
To investigate or detect the unauthorised use or abuse of the telecommunications systems, including using social media websites.
To ensure effective operation of systems, e.g. to detect computer viruses and to maintain an adequate level of security.
To be able to exercise its rights, the College must make all reasonable efforts to inform every person who may use the internet systems that monitoring may take place. The communication of this policy to all students meets this requirement and this policy will be in the Student and Parent Handbook available on the College website and portals.
6.1 Default privacy settings for some social media websites allow some information to be shared beyond an individual’s contacts. In such situations, the user of the site is personally responsible for adjusting the privacy settings for the account. Information available on social media sites could be produced as evidence by either the College or employee or student, should it be necessary, either as part of College procedures, or in legal proceedings.
6.2 Therefore, it is vital that students are strongly encouraged to review their access and privacy settings for any social media sites to control, restrict and guard against who can access the information on those sites. Even if privacy and security settings are utilised, anything posted on social media sites may be made public by onward transmission.
6.3 Social media offers the ability to share personal information rapidly and easily. Students should be aware of the College Acceptable Use of IT Policy, particularly with regard to protecting passwords and personal information to reduce the risks of abuses such as identity theft.
6.4 To avoid identity theft, students are advised to refrain from publishing any personal or sensitive information on social media websites, e.g. date of birth, home address, telephone number or any information related to personal bank accounts.
7.1 The College IT Systems are first and foremost educational/business tools, and as such personal usage of the systems is a privilege and not a right. Students are permitted to make reasonable and appropriate use of social media websites where this is part of the normal work relating to their studies.
6.2 Students who are responsible for contributing to the College’s social media activities should be aware at all times that they are representing the College.
6.3 The College accepts that students may wish to use social media channels as a way of communicating personally with the other students, the public and/or friends; however, its use at College should be restricted to the terms of this policy. Students are permitted to make reasonable and appropriate use of social media websites from the College’s IT network at certain times. Students should limit their use of social media to break/lunch times and/or when travelling (before and after College) unless directed to access such a site educational purpose.
6.4 Students may wish to use their own personal devices, (including laptops, tablets, handheld devices and smart phones) to access social media websites, while at College. Students should limit their use of social media on their own personal equipment to their break/lunch times and/or when travelling and/or times when they are not on in class (before and after College) unless directed to access such a site during a lesson for educational purposes.
6.5 Personal use of social media should not interfere with students’ studies and responsibilities. Abuse of this policy will be considered a disciplinary offence as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.
6.6 Students are not permitted to record voice notes of staff/video/take photographs on the College premises, this includes lessons, in any form for their own purposes or for the purposes of others, unless in exceptional circumstances where they have asked for and been given written permission to do so by the teacher/staff member/student. Please note even where permission has been given to record/video/photograph, any images should not be forwarded, shared, published, amended or placed on any electronic media platform without explicit authorisation of the person/people on the images. Breaches of this will be treated as gross misconduct and subject to the College`s Positive Behaviours and Sanctions Policy.
6.7 Students cannot use ‘The Sixth Form Bolton’ in the title of any social media pages or use the College`s logo, lanyards, ID badges or brand images created by them, under any circumstances. Breaches of this will be treated as gross misconduct.
6.8 Any agreed, as in 6.6, personal image/video taken/made by a student and shared on social media, must not be derogatory to the College in any way. Breaches of this will be treated as gross misconduct and as such will be considered under the Colleges Positive Behaviours and Sanctions Policy.
6.9 As stated in the policy, mobile phones/devices or smart glasses must not be used to film/photography/record any teacher or student/s who is taking part in College activities, particularly ‘live streaming’ on social media. If any student breaches this, it will be treated as gross misconduct as defined in the Student’s Code of Conduct.
7.1.1 The line between public and private, professional and personal is not always clearly defined when using social media. If a student identifies themselves as a member of the College community, when communicating within or outside the College, students must:
Conduct themselves in accordance with other policies, procedures and the College’s current Student Code of Conduct.
Be courteous and respectful as would be expected in any other situation.
Think carefully about how and what activities are carried out on social media websites.
Be transparent and honest. It should be made clear that the views do not represent or reflect the views of the College.
Remove or request the removal of any inappropriate comments, images or videos of them.
Never use mobile phones/devices to record/photograph/video students or staff without a prior written permission in place
While using social media in any capacity, students’ actions can still damage the College’s reputation. Therefore, the following applies:
7.2.1 When communicating in any capacity, within or outside the College/workplace, both students and staff must not conduct themselves inappropriately. The following are examples of inappropriate conduct:
Engaging in activities that have the potential to bring the College into disrepute.
Breach of confidentiality by disclosing privileged, sensitive and/or confidential information.
Making comments that could be considered to be bullying, harassing, fall under the child on child abuse category or be discriminatory against any individual.
Posting remarks which may inadvertently cause offence and constitute unlawful discrimination, harassment and/or victimisation.
Posting or uploading inappropriate comments, images, photographs and/or video clips about anyone at or associated with the College, past or present.
Publishing defamatory and/or knowingly false material about the College, other students or employees.
Engaging in discussions or anything which may contravene the College’s Single Equality Policy/Student Code of Conduct and may have the potential to cause serious harm to the College.
Use of offensive, derogatory or intimidating language which may damage working relationships.
Behaviour that would not be acceptable in any other situation.
Knowingly accessing, viewing or downloading material which could cause offence to other people or may be illegal.
Posting any material that breaches copyright legislation.
Using a College email account to create a personal social media account.
Taking any action online that may conflict with the interests of the College.
Using social media websites in any way which is deemed to be unlawful.
The above examples are not exhaustive or exclusive.
7.2.2 Students will be held personally liable for any material published on social media websites that compromise themselves, other students or anyone associated with the College past and present or the College.
7.3.1 The College encourages the positive use of social media as part of the educational process. Social media is used by many people, particularly students to communicate with their peers and the public. Students must not accept and/or invite employees of the College to be ‘friends’, or ‘follow’ on personal social media accounts or other online services, unless there is a departmental or personal account which has been created specifically and solely for academic purposes.
8.1 Any breach of this policy, including inappropriate conduct of the kind listed in section 7 above, or of a similar nature, and any excessive personal use of social media websites will be dealt with in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct and may also result in the withdrawal of access to social media websites/withdrawal of internet access.
All staff are aware that children with SEND and/or differences/perceived differences are more susceptible to being bullied, including online. As a result, this group receive additional support and guidance in this matter through the Cocoon.
9.1 All students are responsible for complying with the requirements of this policy and for reporting any breaches of the policy to their Progress Coach, BSafe Team, Assistant Principal or the College Senior Leadership Team.
9.2 If students have concerns about information or conduct on social media sites that are inappropriate, offensive, demeaning or could be seen to be harassment/bullying, this should be reported to their Progress Coach or a member of the Safeguarding/BSafe Team immediately and student can press the Stop Alert button at any time.
9.3 If appropriate the College may report an offence to the Police.
9.4 The IT Department is responsible for maintaining the College’s computer systems and for supporting students in the proper usage of the systems.
9.5 This policy has been developed to work in conjunction with other key College procedures and policies including:
Safeguarding Policy
Student Code of Conduct
Anti-Bullying Policy
Positive behaviours and sanctions policy
Acceptable Use of IT
AI Policy
Name of Policy | Student Social Media Policy |
Date Reviewed | Summer 2026 |
Next Review | Summer 2027 |
JCC Consultation / Approval | Not required |
Governing Corporation Approval | Not Required |
Cross Reference to other Policies / Source Documents | Safeguarding Policy Student Contracts Policy Positive Behaviours and Sanctions Policy The Sixth Form Bolton AI Policy |
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