DATE April 2025
REVIEW DATE April 2026
Owner Head of Digital Learning and Innovation
Version Number: V 01
Working Date: 17/03/2025
Legal Sign-off by: N/A
Type of Policy: IT Strategy/Digital Learning
Authorised by Exec: 16/04/2025
Authorised by Board: N/A
Effective date of Policy: April 2025
Circulation: Parent Portal, Internal
INTRODUCTION
1.1 JESS Dubai is recognised internationally as a leading educational institution for the effective integration and innovative use of educational technology JESS has employed Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programs since 2012 and supplements these by providing access to additional forms of technology at appropriate phases across our schools.
1.2 At JESS we prioritise positive digital citizenship and encourage responsible use of technology in line with the JESS Core Values both in and out of school. JESS has a robust digital literacy program which is delivered through a combination of Computing lessons and pastoral sessions. We also host regular events around this theme for parents, including the JESS Digital Awareness Week, to ensure that our school community is supported and equipped to maintain digital citizenship principles at home.
SCOPE OF THIS POLICY
2.1 This policy applies to all JESS students and has the explicit purpose of clarifying:
2.1.1 which digital devices are allowed within the JESS schools
2.1.2 which age group(s) of students are allowed to use which devices
2.1.3 regulations in place around appropriate device use in school
2.1.4 safeguarding protocols set in place for digital devices.
2.2 This policy is applicable from the date of its publication and is reviewed and updated whenever necessary (but at a minimum annually) to ensure that it is in line with UAE laws and KHDA regulations.
2.3 This policy will be shared with all JESS parents, students, staff and governors.
2.4 JESS maintains open lines of communication with the parent community and opportunities for parents to feedback on this policy are available. Such communication informs any necessary amendments or updates.
2.5 This policy incorporates key principles and rules from various JESS policies into one central, public facing document. These policies include:
2.5.1 Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
2.5.2 Online Safety Policy
2.5.3 ICT Acceptable Use Policy
2.5.4 Anti-Bullying and Cyberbullying Policy
2.5.5 Behaviour Policy
2.5.6 Parent and Visitor Code of Conduct
CORE PRINCIPLES OF DEVICE USE AT JESS
3.1 Digital devices are used at JESS to enrich learning and allow our learners access to relevant multimedia content and digital learning experiences.
3.2 Digital devices should only be used at the discretion and direction of the teacher and use should be limited to the necessary time for a given educational activity
3.3 Devices will never be used at school during school day for recreational purposes
3.4 JESS is committed to safeguarding and data protection, which is at the forefront of any decision made on the use of digital tools. This commitment informs device selection, deployment and usage across the schools.
3.5 Students who bring their own digital device are responsible for that device and should take every precaution to ensure the device is looked after. This includes protecting the device with an appropriate case/cover and labelling any peripherals with the student’s full name.
3.6 The protocols in place which govern student digital device use are reviewed throughout the year by the IT Strategy Group
3.7 It is the responsibility of the Director of IT and the Network Manager to ensure that robust systems are in place and meet the requirements for responsible and safe use of digital devices at JESS.
NETWORK SUPERVISION AND MONITORING
4.1 All student devices connect to JESS Wi-Fi using ClearPass which ensures that they can only connect using their school login credentials. This also limits students to connecting one device.
4.2 The school internet connection is protected by the Sophos firewall system which allows JESS to use web and application filters to supervise and moderate the digital content students can access at school. Sophos also offers robust protection from cyber threats and other malicious content.
4.3 Students can only connect to school systems and networks using their schoolprovided accounts.
4.4 Student accounts are powered by Microsoft 365 which provides them with additional protection from malicious attacks via email and provides enterprise data protection for their documents.
4.5 In the primaries, student devices are enrolled on the Mobile Device Management (MDM) platform Mosyle. This enables the school to control the content which is accessible during school hours and/or when on site and connected to the JESS WiFi
4.6 In the primaries, Apple Classroom allows teaching staff to monitor student activity in real-time.
4.7 In Secondary, student devices are enrolled on the Microsoft Intune platform. This platform enables the school to retain admin rights of the devices and control apps installed on the device.
4.8 In Secondary the Classroom Cloud platform contains a safeguarding toolkit which allows teaching staff to monitor student activity in real-time. Classroom Cloud captures evidence of anything deemed inappropriate or that could be considered a child protection risk and automatically notifies the school’s Child Protection Officer.
APPLE IPAD: PRIMARY LEARNING DEVICE
5.1 Apple iPad is the core learning device in the primary schools. No other devices are permitted
5.2 The Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program available to students in Years 4-6 permits students to bring an Apple iPad to school
5.3 Primary devices are enrolled on Mosyle, which enables the school to control the content which is accessible during school hours and/or when on site and connected to the JESS WiFi.
5.4 Parents have the option to leave the Mosyle settings on at home, which allows them to restrict the content on the device to educational apps provided by JESS.
5.5 Parents who purchase the Apple iPad from our primary technology partner, JTRS, receive the device pre-enrolled onto the school’s MDM. If the Apple iPad is purchased from an alternative vendor, the device must be provided to the JESS IT Department, where it will be wiped and enrolled on the school’s MDM. Only after this process can the device be connected to the JESS WiFi and used in school.
5.6 The ICT Acceptable Use Policy outlines clear expectations for the use of Apple iPads in the classroom. The consequences for misuse are outlined in the Behaviour Policy.
MICROSOFT SURFACE: SECONDARY LEARNING DEVICE
6.1 Microsoft Surface Pro is the core learning device in the secondary school. Students are permitted to use a comparable Windows device if it meets the core device requirements as outlined in the JESS Secondary Device Booklet. No other devices are permitted.
6.2 All student devices are enrolled on the Microsoft Intune platform, which enables the school to retain admin rights of the devices and control apps installed on the device.
6.3 Parents who purchase the Surface directly from our technology partner Jacky’s receive it pre-enrolled onto the school’s MDM. If the Windows device is purchased from an alternative vendor, the device must be provided to the JESS IT Department, where it will be wiped and enrolled on the school’s MDM. Only after this process can the device be connected to the JESS WiFi and used in school.
6.4 The ICT Acceptable Use Policy outlines clear expectations for the use of devices in the classroom. The consequences for misuse are outlined in the behaviour policy.
MOBILE PHONES
7.1 Students attending JESS Ranches in Years 5 and 6, and students attending JESS Jumeirah in Year 6 who live in the immediate vicinity of the school are permitted to travel to and from school unaccompanied with parent consent. Only those students with parent consent are permitted to bring a mobile phone to school for this purpose.
7.2 Secondary students are permitted to bring mobile phones to school.
7.3 The school has implemented the Yondr program for all student mobile phones. This program mandates that students lock their mobile phones in the Yondr pouch when entering the school site for the entirety of the school day. This program facilitates a phone-free environment for students.
7.4 In an emergency, a student can telephone their parent via the academic administration team telephone. Similarly, parents can contact the school if they need to communicate with their child.
7.5 Strict sanctions are in place for students found to be in breach of the school’s mobile phone policy and all incidents are logged on the school’s student information platform (iSAMS) to allow staff to monitor these closely.
7.6 With parental permission, students in Years 12 and 13 are allowed off-site during break times. Whilst off-site, students are permitted to remove their mobile phone from their Yondr pouch but must return their phones to the pouch upon their return to school.
7.7 At no point does the school take possession of a student owned mobile phone. If a student forgets their Yondr pouch, a spare pouch is loaned for the duration of the school day.
CAMERAS & VIDEOGRAPHY DEVICES
8.1 Students are not permitted to bring cameras or video recording equipment to school unless specifically given prior permission by the school.
8.2 If permission is granted, use of the equipment is strictly limited to the purpose for which is required The ICT Acceptable Use Policy outlines clear expectations for the use of cameras and video recording equipment.
WEARABLE DEVICES
9.1 Smart watches are not permitted in the primary schools
9.2 Secondary students are allowed to wear a smart watch, provided the watch is not a cause of distraction or used to facilitate academic dishonesty. Students cannot connect smart watches to the JESS WiFi network.
9.3 Only Sixth Form students are allowed to wear smart rings. Students cannot connect smart rings to the JESS WiFi network.
9.4 Smart glasses are not permitted at school.
PORTABLE GAMING DEVICES
10.1 Students are not permitted to bring portable gaming devices to school.
TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION
11.1 Responsible technology use is implemented throughout the JESS curriculum from FS1 through to Year 13.
11.2 The ICT Acceptable Use Policy outlines clear expectations for the responsible use of technology at JESS.
11.3 JESS implements a professional development program for staff that includes training on digital citizenship, digital learning and device management.
11.4 New staff are required to read key JESS policies together with completing an undertaking that they have read the Acceptable Use Policy when starting at JESS Further guidance and training on the technology used at JESS is provided as a part of the induction process.
11.5 Staff also receive training from time to time and have access to the Head of Digital Learning and Innovation as well as the three school Computing leads on hoc support, advice and training relating to digital device use by students.
11.6 Parent outreach sessions, workshops and presentations are delivered annually on the themes of digital citizenship, digital learning, device use and online safety.
11.7 JESS hosts an annual Digital Awareness Week for students, staff and parents This event actively engages the community to educate them on the responsible use of technology.