Under UK data protection requirements, individuals have a right to be informed about how the school uses any personal data. The school complies with this requirement by providing ‘privacy notices’ (sometimes called ‘fair processing notices’) to inform individuals about how their personal data will be processed.
This privacy notice explains how the school collects, stores and uses personal data about governors and other volunteers engaged at the school. This document is based on a variety of sources and has been tailored to the specific needs of the school.
Who processes your information?
Gomersal St Mary’s CE Primary School is the data controller of the personal information provided to us. This means the school determines the purposes for
In some cases, personal data processing will be outsourced to a
Data Tools for Schools is the Data Protection Officer (DPO). While the school remains responsible for data protection, the role of the DPO is to oversee and monitor the school’s data protection
What personal data is collected?
Personal data that we may collect, use, store and share (when appropriate) about our governors and volunteers includes, but is not restricted to:
- Name and contact details
- References
- Evidence of qualifications
- Personal Information such as pen portraits
- Information about business and pecuniary interests
- Photographs
- Data about your use of the school’s information and communications system
We may also collect, store and use information about you that falls into “special categories” of more sensitive personal data. This includes information about (where applicable):
- Race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation and political opinions
- Disability and access requirements
Why does the school collect personal data on its governors and volunteers?
The purpose of collecting and processing this data is to help in the running of the school, including to:
- Establish and maintain effective governance
- Meet statutory obligations for publishing and sharing governors’ details
- Facilitate safe recruitment, as part of our safeguarding obligations towards pupils
- Undertake equalities monitoring
- Ensure that appropriate access arrangements can be provided for those who require them
Whilst the provision of the majority of personal data is mandatory, some of it is provided to the school on a voluntary basis. In order to comply with the UK data protection requirements, the school will inform you whether you are required to provide certain information or if you have a choice.
When collecting data, the school will inform you if your consent is needed. Where consent is required, the school will provide you with specific and explicit information with regards to the reasons the data is being collected, how the data will be used and how consent can be withdrawn.
The lawful basis on which the school will use personal data
The school will use a lawful basis to collect and use personal data. Most commonly, the school will use it where it needs to:
- comply with a legal obligation
- carry out a task in the public interest
Less commonly, the school may also use personal data where:
- you have given us consent to use it in a certain way
- the school needs to protect your vital interests (or someone else’s interests)
Where we process special categories of personal data, such as ethnicity, the processing is necessary for reasons of substantial public interest. Where this doesn’t apply the school will seek consent for specific purposes.
Some of the reasons listed above for collecting and using personal information overlap, and there may be several grounds which justify the school’s use of your data.
Storing personal data
The school will create and maintain files for each governor and volunteer. The information contained in this file is kept secure and is only used for purposes directly relevant to your volunteer work for the school. Once your employment has ended, the school will retain this file and delete the information in
Personal information that is no longer needed, or has become inaccurate or out of date, is disposed of securely. For example, the school will shred or incinerate paper-based records and override electronic files. The school may also use an outside company to safely dispose of records.
Why the school may share personal data
We do not share information about you with any third party without your consent unless the law and our policies allow us to do so. Where it is legally required, or necessary (and it complies with data protection law) the school may share personal data with:
- Our local authority – to meet our legal obligations to share certain information with it, such as safeguarding
- Government departments or agencies – to meet our legal obligations to share information about governors/trustees
- Suppliers and service providers – to enable them to provide the service we have contracted them for, such as governor support
- Professional advisers and consultants
- Police forces, courts, tribunals
The school also uses various systems, such as assessment and reporting software, communication systems and curriculum software that may process personal data. As the data controller, the school will ensure that processors meet and uphold the required data protection standards. An up-to-date list of these third parties can be found on the school website.
Requesting access to personal data
Individuals have a right to make a ‘subject access request’ to gain
If you make a subject access request, and if the school does hold information about you, the school will:
- give you a description of it
- tell you why the school is holding and processing it, and how long it will be kept for
- explain where the school got it from, if not from you
- tell you who it has been, or will be, shared with
- let you know whether any automated decision-making is being applied to the
data, and any consequences of this - give you a copy of the information in an intelligible form
You may also have the right for your personal information to be transmitted electronically to another organisation in certain circumstances.
If you would like to make a subject access request, please contact the DPO via the school office. You are entitled to submit subject access requests all year round, but please bear in mind that it may be necessary for us to extend the response period when requests are submitted over the summer holidays. This will be the case where the request is complex – for example, where we need multiple staff to collect the data.
Other rights regarding personal data
Under data protection law, individuals have certain rights regarding how their personal data is used and kept safe. You have the right to:
- object to the use of your personal data if it would cause, or is causing, damage or distress
- object to the use of your personal data for decisions being taken by automated means (by a computer or machine, rather than by a person)
- in certain circumstances, have inaccurate personal data corrected, deleted or destroyed, or restrict processing
- claim compensation for damages caused by a breach of the data protection regulations
To exercise any of these rights, please contact the DPO via the school office.
Complaints
We take any complaints about the collection and use of personal information very seriously. If you think that the collection or use of personal information is unfair, misleading or inappropriate, or have any other concern about data processing, please raise this with the school in the first instance.
Alternatively, you can make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office:
- Report a concern online at https://ico.org.uk/concerns/
- Call 0303 123 1113
- Or write
to : Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF
Where can you find out more information?
If you would like to find out more information about how we use and store your personal data, please view our Data Protection Policy.
