Data Protection (GDPR)
The General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) came into effect on 25th May 2018. It brought higher standards for handling data and greater expectations for 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:
- Under GDPR, consent must be explicitly given to anything that isn’t within the normal business of the school, especially if it involves a third party managing the data. Parents (or the pupil themselves depending on their age) must express consent for their child’s data to be used outside of the normal business of the school.
- Schools must appoint a Data Protection Officer and be able to prove that they are GDPR compliant.
- Schools must ensure that their third party suppliers who may process any of their data is GDPR compliant and must have legally binding contracts with any company that processes any personal data. These contracts must cover what data is being processed, who it is being processed by, who has access to it and how it is protected.
- It will be compulsory that all data breaches which are likely to have a detrimental effect on the data subject are reported to the ICO within 72 hours
Useful sources of information about GDPR
https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/in-your-sector/education/education-gdpr-faqs/
Who is our DPO?
Our Data Protection Services are purchased through a Service Level Agreement arranged with Telford & Wrekin Council. Our Data Protection Officer is Rob Montgomery.
A DPO has been appointed in order to:
• Inform and advise the Trust and its employees about their obligations to comply with the GDPR and other data protection laws.
• Monitor the Trust’s compliance with the GDPR and other laws, including managing internal data protection activities, advising on data protection impact assessments, conducting internal audits, and providing the required training to staff members.
• The DPO reports to the senior leadership team and the Executive Principal;
• The DPO will operate independently and will not be dismissed or penalised for performing their task.
• Resources and training are provided to the DPO, enabling them to meet their GDPR obligations and develop experience and knowledge.