Education authorities across south west Wales have tightened procedures to try and prevent school children accessing internet porn sites.

Swansea's education department launched an inquiry after children as young as 10 logged on to a hard core porn site during a computer studies course at Mayals Primary School.

At all times school pupils using the Internet should be supervised

Pembrokeshire council

Governors at Glanafan Comprehensive school, in Port Talbot, have upheld the head teacher's decision to permanently exclude a 15-year-old pupil.

The boy allegedly created a pornographic website at home then e-mailed it to school computers.

His family lost an appeal against the decision to exclude the boy after an independent panel decided the school's response was considered reasonable.

A spokesperson for Neath and Port Talbot council said: "The website was identified by the school as soon as one of the school computers was used by a pupil to access it.

Experts say close supervision is the best safeguard

"All schools in the county have received detailed guidance on appropriate codes of practice for staff and pupils in the use of the internet and appropriate training has been given to designated staff.

Carmarthenshire uses a blacklist filtering system which is updated daily.

Iwan Rees, head teacher at Ysgol Gyfun Maes yr Yrfa in Cefneithin said: "Students have wonderful educational opportunities through the internet.

"I am happy that we have a system of monitoring which provides the necessary security for them."

Close supervision

Pembrokeshire council insists that schools should be connected to the Internet through a recognised educational Internet Service Provider who have in place a filter service.

But as spokesman said: "Whilst every effort is made to protect pupils, this is not an infallible service.

"At all times school pupils using the Internet should be supervised."