to think she shouldn't have access to my children's school records?

[needajob]

Have name changed.

I recently applied for a job in the kitchen where my DC's go to school (secondary). Went for my interview last week and the head of the kitchen told me she'd looked up my DC's school records before I arrived.

I'm not sure if I'm making too much of this but I am quite angry about it. Firstly, why does she need to see my DC's school records? It's me that applied for the job, not them. Secondly, isn't that info confidential? Why has the school cook been given access to my DC's records without my permission? There could have been all sorts of sensitive info on there! There isn't - but that is not the point. What sort of info is on these records? How much does she now know about my DC? My eldest recently had some trouble at school, so will the school cook now know all about it?

Am pissed off and not sure I want the job now seeing as it has caused trouble already.

AIBU?

[mumblechum]

Am rather shocked. Is the head approachable?

[Uriel]

How odd! Why on earth does the cook need to see your kids' records?

[BennyAndJoon]

Why on earth would she be given access to that?

Apart from anything else, if you children were at a different school she would not be able to access them, so you are being treated differently than an applicant who does not have DC at the school?

am rather ed and personally would ask to know why she has been given access to that information.

[Seeline]

Maybe it was just to check his attendance - if he's often off sick, will you be needing time off work. I agree that this should be confidential, and if she saw any more than that I would be extremely concerned.

[Hassled]

That's bloody awful and you should complain all the way. She had absolutely no authority to do that and I'm amazed she managed to get access to the records in the first place. There are data protection regulations to prevent situations like this, which the school will be well aware of. Speak to the Head, write to the Chair of Governors.

[catinthehat2]

I think if any teaching staff, from the Head down, were to hear about this, there would be a mushroom cloud centred on the kitchen area of the school shortly afterwards.

[BennyAndJoon]

I just came back to say what hassled said. I would suspect that this breaches data protection legislation as there is no legitimate reason for her to access that information.

[Heated]

I work in a school and the head of the kitchen wouldn't have access to information like that. So that is very odd. And even odder imo that she would look up your son's records since it has no bearing at all on you applying for the job.

[Heated]

Whether you get the job or not I think you need to tell the Head that confidential and potentially sensitive data appears to be available to absolutely anyone and you are very concerned about that.

[Greensleeves]

Are you sure she is telling the truth?

Maybe she is one of those people who exaggerate the authority of their own position for the purpose of self-aggrandizement?

If she has had access to your child's records though I would raise the bloody roof

[Greensleeves]

...and if she is fibbing the Head should have a stiff word with her!

[needajob]

I did wonder if she could have been making it up to try and look more important.

I also wondered if maybe the kitchen staff have their own records of the children and that is what she was looking up. The school has a cashless card system so maybe she was looking at those records, although I'm not sure why she would need/want to do this. Surely the number of brownies my DC's buy isn't that important.

Half of me wants to let the matter go because I'd quite like to work there and she can't have found out anything too sensitive because there isn't anything to know - but the other half of me is still rather angry that kitchen staff can access my DC's records.

I really wish I'd asked at the time what exactly she looked up.

[sleepyeyes]

YANBU! I would talk to HT if she can access them then I'm sure the rest of the staff can too, I wouldn't be happy about that.

[MildredRoper]

YANBU!! That's outrageous! You should definitely complain.

[dawntigga]

YANBU that breaks the data protection act big time - you could take the school to court for that.

dxx

[pjmama]

Wait and see if you get the job.

If you do, you'll be able to find out for yourself what she does and doesn't have access to and decide from there if its something you want to query.

If you don't, go see the Head and kick up a stink about it.

I can't see any reason why she should have access to this kind of information.

[scratchet]

I think it is absolutely disgraceful. Why an earth would kitchen staff need to see records? Can you imagine the uproar if hospital canteen staff accessed patient records. WTF would she need to look at that information?

[AAE]

Hi - I used to work in school personnel and I used to check if there was anything significant that I should be aware of with the heads of year when interviewing parents (on instruction from the head). This was to ensure that we were aware of any delicate issues. One interview question would always involve confidentiality etc but we could be thorough when we had all the facts.

[AAE]

BTW - we never really let on to candidates though. It was more of a 'heads up' to ourselves as some people seemed to apply just to get in with the school....