Monitoring and Filtering
Stamford Schools uses a layered approach to safeguarding pupils’ 1:1 Lenovo laptops, combining network-level security with dedicated safeguarding and filtering technology. While a device is connected to the school network, internet access is protected by our enterprise firewall and web-filtering systems alongside Senso v2, providing multiple layers of protection. Web content is filtered across the recognised categories recommended for schools by the Department for Education, helping to prevent access to inappropriate, harmful or unsafe material.
Senso also provides device-level protection, meaning that safeguarding controls continue to operate when a pupil takes their laptop away from school and connects to another network, such as their home Wi-Fi. Pupils are not given administrator rights on their laptops, which prevents them from disabling or removing the safeguarding software and other security controls installed by the school.
Filtering is supported by active monitoring rather than simply relying on websites being blocked. Senso v2 monitors activity on the device, including web activity and relevant keyboard input, to help identify concerning searches, language or behaviour that may indicate a safeguarding risk. Website and monitoring logs are reviewed by the school’s IT safeguarding team each school day, with alerts or activity of concern escalated to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) in accordance with the school’s safeguarding procedures. This combination of secure device configuration, network filtering, off-site protection and human review provides a consistent safeguarding framework for school-managed devices, whether pupils are using them in a classroom, elsewhere on the school site or at home.
