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The software monitors activity for inappropriate words, including those related to bullying, pornography and racism. Should the software come across any keywords, it then takes a picture of the computer screen for later review.

The announcement was made by the London Grid for Learning, a group of 33 local education authorities, at the BETT technology in education conference in London.

"This software enables all computer related activity to be tracked, encourages pupils to follow schools' guidelines on acceptable use of IT and ultimately enables better protection of pupils from cyber-bullying and other inappropriate on-line activities," says Brian Durrant, chief executive of the LGfL.

The software, managed by Synetrix, has been used to great effect before. In a previous trial held in East London, teachers at one school knew students were gathering in a nearby park each day after

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classes, but didn't know what they were doing there. After installing the system, they discovered students were dealing drugs.

Aside from allowing teachers to monitor for negative behaviour such as bullying and drug dealing, it also alerts them to welfare issues like trouble at home or eating disorders, says Ellie Puddle of Forensic Software, who developed the system.

It can also help schools track people outside of the school communicating with students. If someone emails or sends an instant message to a student asking if he or she is alone, it could potentially be someone grooming the student for sexual abuse. Such content would also be captured using the system, and could help protect children.

The software is also being used to help educate students about such dangers. Teachers can come to class with records of how many such incidents occurred to students in the class, and use that as a way to educate them against online dangers, Puddle says. "They can take those practices and apply them at home... it's part of education now, learning responsibility online."

While the product could raise privacy concerns, Puddle says every user on the system must acknowledge when they logon that they know monitoring software is being used. "Students are aware the service is there... it allows them to change their behaviour."

"What we're seeing is when the system is pointed out to kids, they're pleased to know it's there. The feedback is positive," says Puddle.