Abuse victim boosts pupil safety

More than 800 schools have installed use the software

A Surrey man who was abused at a care home in the 1950s has developed software to help protect pupils from bullying and paedophile grooming.

Bill Jenkins, from Walton-on-Thames, remortgaged his house to fund the system called Securus in 2002.

Now the software has Department for Education and Skills backing and has been introduced into 800 schools.

Mr Jenkins said he wanted to turn his experience of being abused as a child into something positive.

He said: "I felt that what happened to me shouldn't be happening to other people in life and wondered if there was something I could do about it."

It's really important to have a system that not only stops material coming through... but also allows us to find out what exactly is going on the screen Head teacher Simon Uttley

The Securus system blocks out and alerts staff to inappropriate content being accessed and captures images of pupils' computer screens.

If anyone has been a victim of internet bullying or has downloaded unsuitable material teachers can take the issue up with children and their parents.

Mr Jenkins added: "What a great feeling at the end of the day to be able to go home and think we've helped another few thousand children."

Simon Uttley, head teacher of St Paul's Catholic College in Sunbury, Surrey, said the system ensured that his pupils were being protected.

"It's really important to have a system that not only stops material coming through, that's inappropriate for children, but also allows us to find out what exactly is going on the screen," he said.