In May 2018, the laws surrounding data protection changed and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into effect.
The new GDPR replaced the Data Protection Act and is designed to strengthen and unify all data held within an organisation, and to provide transparency regarding its storage and usage. GDPR requires schools to inform parents and stakeholders about how they are using students’ data and who it is being used by. It brings higher standards for handling data, improved transparency, enhanced data security and increased accountability for processing personal data. Schools have a legal duty to comply with the GDPR.
What does GDPR mean for schools?
A great deal of the processing of personal data undertaken by schools will fall under a specific legal basis, ‘in the public interest’. As it is in the public interest to operate schools successfully, it will mean that specific consent will not be needed in the majority of cases in schools.
GDPR will ensure data is protected and will give individuals more control over their data, however this means schools will have greater accountability for the data:
Information Commissioner's Office - A Guide to GDPR
Information Commissioner's Office - GDPR Guide for Schools
The documents below contain all of the relevant GDPR information for parents/carers.