Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most frequently asked questions.

1) What personal details do you store?

2) Why should I use your pay-site rather than one of the many free forums\blogs?

3) Can other users identify me on-line?

4) Can staff register as pupils and so 'spy' on pupil's posts & comments?

5) Can pupils register as staff and so 'spy' on staff posts & comments?

6) What's to stop someone registering using a fake name or the name of another pupil\staff member?

What personal details do you store?
During the registration process, we store your Forename, Surname, email and class\job title. Once registered, only your UserId and email (not visible to other users) are transferred to your user profile, any other details are added at your discretion.

Although your profile is visible only to other users from your school, you are strongly advised to refrain from adding too much personal details to your profile.

NB. As per our Privacy policy, the school has the right to request a copy all stored details of any individual user.

Why should I use your pay-site rather than one of the many free forums\blogs?
Communicating in a public space has its dangers. Schools Only provides a private space for your school and contains users from your school only, thus minimising the dangers of on-line communication.

For pupils:
1) Free forums\blogs are usually vast and can contain people with varied backgrounds and experiences. Like minded people can be difficult to find. Schools Only contains users from your school only who will share common interests and experiences.

For staff.
1) Staff groups provide a private environment to make staff announcements, quickly and effectively and allow the collection of feedback from staff.

2) School groups provide a private environment to make school announcements, quickly and effectively and allow the collection of feedback from staff and pupils.

Can other users identify me on-line?
Not if you don't want to be. Your initial user profile contains minimal personal information, (see question 1). Any additional information is added at your discretion. Your UserId is the least amount of personal information viewable to other users.

Also, don't forget, its only users from your school that can view your profile or any of your postings.

Can staff register as pupils and so 'spy' on pupil’s posts & comments?
There's no way of stopping this should the school choose not to but there wouldn't be much to gain.

As per our Terms & Conditions, objectionable posts are not allowed and any user can report another user for abusing this. True, staff would be able to see what discussions pupils are having but all users can choose to store only their UserId (see question 1).

Can pupils register as staff and so 'spy' on staff posts & comments?
Yes, but not if the school didn't want this to happen. The user's letter of confirmation, (which includes their logon details), is enclosed in a letter addressed to the school headmaster. This letter states the type of account the user has applied for, Staff or Pupil. If the school wishes to ensure that pupils do not have access to the Staff areas then they should not forward confirmation letters to pupils who have applied for staff accounts.

Also, this would constitute a breach of the Terms & Conditions.

What's to stop someone registering using a fake name or the name of another pupil\staff member?
Nothing, but if the person was 'fake' then the user letter of confirmation would never reach them. Similarly, if another pupil's\staff name was used then it would be this person that received the letter, not the person who registered.