Training Courses

All teachers and education professionals in schools need to have an understanding of the Data Protection Act (DPA) and the Freedom of Information Act (FOI). Both place obligations on schools to protect and give access to information. These obligations cannot be passed on to the LEA. This course will take you through the basics of both Acts and give you an action plan for compliance.

The importance of the DPA has been emphasised by the recent media stories. The frenzy over the lost Child Benefit discs, background checks on teachers as well as a recent story in the Telegraph about a child’s conviction being kept from parents on data protection grounds have shown up the lack of understanding around the DPA in schools.

Schools have also recently fallen foul of the FOI. A primary school in Weston Super Mare and a high school in Staffordshire have both been found to have breached section 10(1) of the FOI. Although no enforcement action was recommended in these cases the schools are listed on the Information Commissioner’s website. A school in Bristol also recently used FOI to access OFSTED inspectors’ notes.