The internet is giving parents instant access to their children's academic progress.

Ratton School in Eastbourne is the first secondary school in the country to give parents confidential access to school records using the world wide web.

The school has introduced the parentsgateway system, providing online remote-viewing of pupil attendance records, lesson timetables and assessment results updated on a daily basis.

It also shows teacher allocation by subject with email links for parents who may need to get in contact about their child's development.

Information systems manager Vivien Reed said: "We have been very vigilant to put the pupil's needs at the centre of everything.

"If used properly, the link between home and school should mean we can quickly identify when a child is in need of extra help.

"At a time when more parents work and visits to school are increasingly difficult to schedule, internet communication is essential."

Security has been a paramount concern and all the data on the system is encrypted to deter hacking.

Mrs Reed said: "The encryption system is safer than that used by bank web sites. It has been approved by the Data Protection Agency.

"Every parent has been issued with individual log-on details, providing access only to their own child or children's information. If a couple has split up and both parents keep responsibility for a child, they will both be able to use the system but they will not be able see details about each other."

The parentsgateway programme was designed by Bedford-based Capita Education Services. The school aims to add extra information as the system becomes established.

Mrs Reed said: "Next year, we hope to be able to show what homework has been set for each child and communicate exam results to students."

The school has more than 1,000 pupils, aged 11 to 16. Log-on details were send to parents last week and more than 300 have already used the system.

Mrs Reed has been shortlisted for a British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTA) award for her role in introducing the system to the school.

www.ratton.esussex.sch.uk
www.parentsgateway.com