AN investigation has been launched after Scots primary pupils managed to download porn at their school.
An 11-year-old girl at Inverbrothock primary, Arbroath, Angus, opened a picture of a topless woman in class.
The girl’s “deeply concerned” father demanded an investigation to determine how children were able to bypass robust internet security measures.
Angus Council has admitted that “inappropriate images” were found and has stopped all internet access at the school until the inquiry is concluded.
The P7 girl – who cannot be named for legal reasons – had logged on to a computer using the Scottish Government’s Glow network.
It is meant to provide a “trusted and safe” linked system that can be accessed by pupils, parents and teachers.
The encrypted password system uses a child’s surname and first initial to provide each user with their own personal account.
But it is understood fellow pupils managed to download the explicit material from the internet and then shared it with the horrified 11-year-old by email.
Inverbrothock’s head teacher, Teresa Skelding, contacted the parents of those involved to make them aware of the incident.
But the girl’s furious father said Angus Council had previously assured parents the Glow network was secure.
He said: “We now know this is not true if pupils can use it to download potentially offensive images but also circulate them with other pupils.
“Behaviour of this kind can have a traumatic effect on young people especially if it forms a pattern of behaviour.”
The father also said the local authority needs to beef up computer firewalls to prevent similar incidents in the future.
He added: “I am deeply concerned that this was allowed to happen and Angus Council have questions to answer.
“Not least of which is why did they assume their system was safe and what will they now do to make it safe?”
An Angus Council spokesman said: “The council has comprehensive filtering services in place and provides advice to pupils and parents on the safe use of the internet.
“This includes provision of information to pupils and parents and a signed commitment to abide by internet rules.
“Unfortunately on this occasion to access inappropriate materials from the internet.
“An investigation is underway and we will be looking at ways to avoid any recurrence in the future.
“In the meantime, internet access has been removed and the relevant parents have been informed.”
The Scottish Government said school e-mails are subject to security measures but Inverbrothock Primary School do not use the Glow network.
A spokesman said: “The Scottish Government takes online safety of school pupils very seriously and the Glow system uses filtering and anti-virus software to protect all users.
“In this case Education Scotland has confirmed that Inverbrock Primary and Angus Council do not use Glow Mail.
“The matter is currently being investigated by Angus Council and we will continue to work with partners to make sure the use of the internet in schools is as secure as possible.”
