The categories of pupil information that we collect, hold and share include:
- Personal information (such as name, unique pupil number and address)
- Assessment and diagnosis information, relevant medical information, special educational needs information, behavioural information, safeguarding information
- Characteristics (such as ethnicity, language, country of birth and free school meal eligibility)
- Information from previous provisions and reports from professionals who have worked with your child.
- The pupil’s previous and next provision.
Why we collect and use this information
We use the pupil data to:
- support pupil learning
- monitor and report on pupil progress
- provide appropriate pastoral care
- assess the quality of our services
- comply with the law regarding data sharing
The lawful basis on which we use this information:
We collect and use pupil information under Article 6.1(f) and Article 9.2(a) of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (May 2018).
Collecting pupil information:
Whilst the majority of pupil information you provide to us is mandatory, some of it is provided to us on a voluntary basis. In order to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation, we will inform you whether you are required to provide certain pupil information to us or if you have a choice in this.
Storing pupil data:
We hold pupil data for the period that the child remains at Blossom House and for as long as the provision exists.
Who we share pupil information with:
- schools that the pupil attends after leaving us
- the pupil’s local authority
- the Department for Education (DfE)
- external professionals working with the pupil in school
- examination boards
Why we share pupil information:
- to ensure continued progress
- to provide external support for the pupil if required
- to ensure continued LA funding and extra funding eg pupil premium
We do not share information about our pupils with anyone without consent unless the law and our policies allow us to do so.We share some data with the Department for Education (DfE) on a statutory basis. This data sharing underpins school funding and educational attainment policy and monitoring.
Data collection requirements:To find out more about the data collection requirements placed on us by the Department for Education (for example; via the school census) go to
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-level-annual-school-census
The National Pupil Database (NPD)The NPD is owned and managed by the Department for Education and contains information about pupils in schools in England. It provides invaluable evidence on educational performance to inform independent research, as well as studies commissioned by the Department. It is held in electronic format for statistical purposes. This information is securely collected from a range of sources including schools, local authorities and awarding bodies. We are required by law to provide information about our pupils to the DfE as part of statutory data collections such as the school census and early years’ census. Some of this information is then stored in the NPD. The law that allows this is the Education (Information About Individual Pupils) (England) Regulations 2013.
To find out more about the NPD, go to:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-pupil-database-user-guide-and-supporting-information The department may share information about our pupils from the NPD with third parties who promote the education or well-being of children in England by:
- conducting research or analysis
- producing statistics
- providing information, advice or guidance
The Department has robust processes in place to ensure the confidentiality of our data is maintained and there are stringent controls in place regarding access and use of the data. Decisions on whether DfE releases data to third parties are subject to a strict approval process and based on a detailed assessment of:
- who is requesting the data
- the purpose for which it is required
- the level and sensitivity of data requested: and
- the arrangements in place to store and handle the data
To be granted access to pupil information, organisations must comply with strict terms and conditions covering the confidentiality and handling of the data, security arrangements and retention and use of the data.
For more information about the department’s data sharing process, please visit:
https://www.gov.uk/data-protection-how-we-collect-and-share-research-dataFor information about which organisations the department has provided pupil information, (and for which project), please visit the following website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-pupil-database-requests-receivedTo contact DfE:
https://www.gov.uk/contact-dfe
Requesting access to your personal dataUnder data protection legislation, parents and pupils have the right to request access to information about them that we hold. To make a request for your personal information, or be given access to your child’s educational record, contact our Data Protection Officer.
You also have the right to:
- object to processing of personal data that is likely to cause, or is causing, damage or distress
- object to decisions bein taken by automated means
- in certain circumstances, have inaccurate personal data rectified, blocked, erased or destroyed; and
- claim compensation for damages caused by a breach of the Data Protection regulations
If you have a concern about the way we are collecting or using your personal data, we request that you raise your concern with us in the first instance. Alternatively, you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office at
https://ico.org.uk/concerns/ContactContactIf you would like to discuss anything in this privacy notice, please contact the school Data Protection Officer.
19/3/18 SL
