Laptop Usage Policy
Reviewed September 2015
Laptop Usage Policy
The policy outlines the responsibilities that staff must accept when they are issued a laptop. It
applies to all members of staff who have been issued with a laptop from the school.
Laptops provide the convenience of portability. This convenience exposes the school to certain
risks. These include but are not limited to:
Theft of school property – laptops are easy to steal and their relatively high value and
easiness to sell makes them a common target for theft;
Exposure of sensitive data or information – misplaced or unsecured laptops may expose
sensitive information to the public. Loss of such data could be utilised by sections of the
public for illegal purposes;
Damage of school property – laptops can be susceptible to damage both due to their nature
and their relatively fragile construction.
Any member of staff issued with a laptop will need to confirm, by signing an acceptance of the
policy, that he/she has read, understands and will comply with the policy. A copy of the policy will
need to be signed by the member of staff, with a copy being retained in school until the laptop is
returned or replaced. When a member of staff is provided with a laptop, he/she accepts
responsibility for safeguarding the laptop itself as well as the data stored on the laptop.
Laptop users are expected to exercise reasonable care and take the following precautions:
Ensure they have appropriate car and house insurance to be able to transport/use the
laptop on school business
Take appropriate steps to protect the laptop from theft
Laptops, where possible, should not be left unattended in a parked car. On those
occasions when there is no alternative, they should be locked in the boot
Laptops should be carried and stored in a padded laptop computer bag or strong briefcase
to reduce the chance of accidental damage
Laptops should not be used in environments that might increase the likelihood of damage
Keep an independent record of the laptop serial number. In case of the laptop being lost or
stolen, the Online Safety Co-ordinator will need this number for insurance and police
Do not work or save sensitive information (e.g. education records, personally identifiable
information, and confidential information) on the laptop without taking proper precautions
All members of staff are accountable for all network and systems access under their
individual user ID. Passwords should be kept absolutely secret. It should never be shared
with anyone
Laptops are provided for official use by authorised employees. Neville’s Cross Primary
School laptops must not be loaned or be allowed to be used by others
Avoid leaving your laptop unattended and logged on. Always shut down, log off or lock the
screen before walking away from the machine
Laptops have anti-virus software installed, but laptops are vulnerable if the software is not
kept up to date.
Laptops should not be connected to the Internet unless a suitable firewall package has
been installed.
E-mail attachments are one of the main sources of virus – avoid opening any e-mail
attachment unless they are expected from a legitimate source
Report any security incidents (such as virus infections) to the Online Safety Co-ordinator
immediately in order to minimise the risk
Do not download, install or use unauthorised software programmes. No personal
programmes are to be used, e.g. i-tunes
Any software that is required should be referred to the Online Safety Co-ordinator to ensure
correct permissions and licences are in place. A relevant licence will be stored securely for
audit purposes
The member of staff must comply with relevant laws, regulations and policies applying to
the use of computers and information, e.g. licence, copyright, and privacy laws
Durham County Council will not tolerate inappropriate materials such as pornographic,
racist, defamatory or harassing files, photographs, videos or e-mail messages that might
cause offence or embarrassment. Never store, use, copy or circulate such material on the
laptop
Any damage or loss must be reported to the Headteacher or Online Safety Co-ordinator as
soon as possible.
Failure to comply with this policy could lead to disciplinary action.
Laptop serial number _________________________________
Laptop make and model _______________________________
Signed ____________________________________ (member of staff)
Date ______________________________________
