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Privacy information: key stage 4 and 5 and adult education

Details of the personal data the Department for Education (DfE) processes for learners in key stage 4 and key stage 5, and for adult learners.

Updates to this page

From:
Department for Education
Published:
3 October 2023
Last updated:
7 September 2026
Show all updates

  1. Updated the ‘Using your data to fund your learning, school or childcare’ section to include funding to schools for specific programmes, such as the Music and Dance scheme, free school meals, holiday activities and food programme clubs, and scholarships. Updated the ‘Using your data when you find, apply for and undertake an apprenticeship’ section to cover My apprenticeship services. Also updated ‘Using your data to record, monitor and report on your learning achievements or attainments and attendance’ section to include colleges and awarding organisations (also known as exam boards).

  2. Linked to relevant sections in the Members of the public privacy notice for sections 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23 and 26. Introduction update to include learners in higher education and apprenticeships.

  3. Added new section on 'Using your data when we use your student loan data'. The section on 'Using your data to enable you to apply for apprenticeships' has been merged with 'Using your data when you use to find and apply for an apprenticeship'. Merged the section on 'Using your data to carry out item validation trials' with the section on 'Using your data to carry out trials'. Updated the data processor and data collection details in the 'Using your data to maintain lists of markers and coders' and 'Using your data to undertake pupil assessments' sections. Added details about longitudinal research studies to the 'Using your data so we can undertake long-term research and publish official statistics'.

  4. Added new section 'Using your data so we can support the boards and panels' and updated the 'How long we keep your data’ sections with a link to the DfE retention schedule.

  5. Added information on 'Using your data when you make a referral of serious teacher misconduct to the TRA'.

  6. Updated the information in 'Using your data when you make a complaint about education providers, children’s social care or DfE'.

  7. Added new section 'Using your data to administer the Department for Education’s Risk Protection Arrangement' and updated data collected in the ‘Using your data to fund your learning’ section.

  8. Added a section on 'Using your data when you use Find an apprenticeship' and details about the Analyse School Performance service.

  9. Added new section on using your data when you make a complaint about education providers, children’s social care or DfE. Updated legislation details in learning achievements or attainments section. Updated data collected in section on using date for policy development and delivery.

  10. Updated retention periods for Deeds and DfE’s databases in 'How long we keep your data'. Added details about the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Privacy information was updated in ‘Using your data to improve the well-being of children in England’ to include details about children's data. Updated the data collected in 'Contacting us to make an enquiry or complaint'.

  11. First published.

Documents

Privacy information: key stage 4 and 5 and adult education

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Details

This document details what personal data DfE processes about learners in key stage 4, key stage 5 and adult learners, including apprentices.

It includes pupils and learners in schools and academies, as well as learners in hospital schools or alternative provision, or who are home educated.

Read our privacy notices for:

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