Privacy Statement...

Schools, local education authorities and the Department for Education and Skills (the government department which deals with education) all hold information on pupils in order to run the education system, and in doing so have to follow the Data Protection Act 1998. This means, among other things, that the data held about pupils must only be used for specific purposes allowed by law. We are therefore writing to tell you about the types of data held, why that data is held, and to whom it may be passed on.

The school holds information on pupils in order to support their teaching and learning, to monitor and report on their progress, to provide appropriate pastoral care, and to assess how well the school as a whole is doing. This information includes contact details, National Curriculum assessment results, attendance information, characteristics such as ethnic group, special educational needs and any relevant medical information.

From time to time we are required to pass on some of this data to the Local Education Authority (LEA), to another school to which the pupil is transferring, to the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), and to Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) which is responsible for the National Curriculum and associated assessment arrangements.

The Local Education Authority uses information about pupils to carry out specific functions for which it is responsible, such as the assessment of any special educational needs the pupil may have. It also uses the information to derive statistics to inform decisions on (for example) the funding of schools, and to assess the performance of schools and set targets for them. The statistics are used in such a way that individual pupils cannot be identified from them.

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority uses information about pupils to administer the National Curriculum tests and assessments for Key Stages 1 to 3. The results of these are passed on to DfES in order for it to compile statistics on trends and patterns in levels of achievement. The QCA uses the information to evaluate the effectiveness of the National Curriculum and the associated assessment arrangements, and to ensure that these are continually improved.

The Department for Education and Skills uses information about pupils for statistical purposes, to evaluate and develop education policy and to monitor the performance of the education service as a whole. The statistics (including those based on information provided by the QCA) are used in such a way that individual pupils cannot be identified from them. The DfES will feed back to LEAs and schools information about their pupils where they are lacking this information because it was not passed on by a former school. On occasion information may be shared with other Government departments or agencies strictly for statistical or research purposes only.

Pupils, as data subjects, have certain rights under the Data Protection Act, including a general right of access to personal data held on them, with parents exercising this right on their behalf if they are too young to do so themselves. If your child wishes to access their personal data, or you wish to do so on their behalf, then please contact the relevant organisation in writing:

• the school at The Beauchamp College, Ridge Way, Oadby, Leicester, LE2 5TP.
• the LEA’s Data Protection Officer c/o Statistics and Information Unit, Education Department, Room 700, County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8RF.
• the QCA’s Data Protection Officer at QCA, 83 Piccadilly, LONDON, W1J 8QA;
• the DfES’s Data Protection Officer at DfES, Caxton House, Tothill Street, LONDON, SW1H 9NA.

Please note that all rights under the Data Protection Act to do with information about your child rest with them as soon as they are old enough to understand these rights.

This will vary from one child to another and you will wish to consider the position for your child, but, as a broad guide, it is reckoned that most children will have a sufficient understanding by the age of 12. We would therefore encourage you to share this note with your child if they are aged 12 or over.

Separately from the Data Protection Act, DfES regulations provide a pupil’s parent (regardless of the age of the pupil) with the right to view, or to have a copy of, their child’s educational record at the school. If you wish to exercise this right you should write to the school.

Providing information to Connexions

Connexions is for young people aged 13-19 who want advice on getting to where they want to be in life. Connexions personal advisers can give information, advice and practical help with all sorts of things, like choosing subjects at school or mapping out future career options. They can help with anything which might be affecting young people at school, college, work or in their personal or family life.

For pupils approaching or above age 13 the school is required to pass on information to the Connexions Service. This information includes the name and address of the pupil and parent, and any further information relevant to the Connexions Service’s role. However parents, or the pupil themselves if aged 16 or over, can ask that no information beyond name and address (for pupil and parent) be passed on to Connexions. If as a parent, or as a pupil aged 16 or over, you do not want Connexions to receive from us information beyond name and address, then please contact the school within two weeks of receiving this note.

Since, for pupils aged 16 or over, the right to ask for information beyond name and address not to be passed to Connexions rests with the pupil rather than the parent, it is particularly important that you share this note with your child if they are of this age.

The LEA and DfES may provide Connexions with information which they have about your child, but will not pass on any information they have received from us if you (or your child if aged 16 or over) have notified the school (within two weeks of receiving this letter) that Connexions should not receive information beyond name and address. 

Yours sincerely