Guidance

Data protection: privacy notice model documents

Suggested privacy notices for schools and local authorities to issue to staff, parents and pupils about the collection of data.

Applies to England

Documents

Details

Providing accessible information to individuals about the use of personal data is a key element of the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK General Data Protection Regulation.

The most common way to provide information is through a privacy notice.

The department provides suggested wording that schools and local authorities may wish to use. You must review and amend to reflect local needs and circumstances, as you will process data that is not solely for use within data collections.

You can issue privacy notices in a number of ways, for example on your website, or within:

  • induction packs
  • staff contracts
  • information about social services
Published 10 July 2013
Last updated 30 October 2023 + show all updates
  1. Updated a link to the National Pupil Database (NPD) privacy notice in the following documents: 'Explanation of privacy notices', 'Privacy notice: suggested text for pupils', 'Privacy notice: suggested text for a local authority' and 'Privacy notice: suggested text for looked-after children and children in need'.

  2. Documents updated: 'Explanation of privacy notices', 'Privacy notice: suggested text for pupils', 'Privacy notice: suggested text for school workforce', 'Privacy notice: suggested text for school and trust governance roles', 'Privacy notice: suggested web text for a local authority', 'Privacy notice: suggested text for looked-after children and children in need'.

  3. Removed 'Privacy notice: how we use employee information' and added 'Privacy notice: how we use children's social workforce information'.

  4. Documents updated: 'Explanation of privacy notices', 'Privacy notice: suggested text for pupils', 'Privacy notice: suggested text for school workforce', 'Privacy notice: suggested text for school and trust governance roles', 'Privacy notice: suggested web text for a local authority', 'Privacy notice: suggested text for looked-after children and children in need'.

  5. Updated the document 'Explanation of privacy notices'.

  6. Updated privacy notice suggested templates for pupils, school workforce, school and trust governance, local authority and looked-after children to amend 'Article 9' link and changed 'GDPR' to 'UK GDPR' where applicable.

  7. Updated 'Privacy notices: an explanation of privacy notices' with v1.2 August 2020.

  8. Updated privacy notice user guide and suggested templates for pupils, school workforce, local authority, looked-after children and children in need. Update covers parental consent to prevent the sharing of additional pupil information with local authorities and youth support services.

  9. Updated in 'Privacy notice: suggested text for a school governor'. The document now uses the terminology 'individuals in governance roles in maintained schools and academy trusts'.

  10. Updated privacy notices for pupils, school workforces, school governors, local authorities, and looked after children and children in need.

  11. Updated suggested wording for 'Privacy notice: how we use employee information'

  12. Updated privacy notices with suggested text to reflect the latest data protection legislation (DPA 2018).

  13. Updated 'Privacy notice: how we use employee information' to help local authorities comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

  14. Added documents 'Privacy notice: suggested text for a school governor'.

  15. Added an explanation of privacy notices and updated the suggested texts.

  16. Updated privacy notices to help local authorities comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

  17. Added 'Privacy notice: how we use employee information'.

  18. Updated 'suggested text for pupils' documents to help schools comply with the General Data Protection Regulation.

  19. Updated privacy notice model documents for pupils, local authorities, and looked-after children and children in need.

  20. Updated privacy notice model documents.

  21. Documents updated to take account of any relevant policy and organisational changes, and to include the latest web links.

  22. First published.