Data breach school

Prawncaviar · 2025-01-21T13:22:42+00:00

Would I be unreasonable to inform a parent that another parent has used their position as a teacher to find out privileged information about their criminal background and share it with other parents? I don’t think it is right for her to be gossiping about others behind their back.

butteredcrumpetz · 21/01/2025 17:17

@Prawncaviar look up the data protection policy on the school website. It will tell you who to inform. Telling the parent won't help them .. you are in a better position to report it than they are (assuming you got the information first-hand).

FrippEnos · 21/01/2025 17:05

It doesn't matter if the person still works there or not.
If this can be proved to be a data breach the person can be held responsible for their actions with fines and imprisonment.

BarbaraHoward · 21/01/2025 16:52

That's horrific. Yes you need to tell the head.

branstonpickle28 · 21/01/2025 16:39

As others have said, she must've been involved in meetings about this, or had some sort of safeguarding link to have been told this information. There are online systems school use such as Cura, which are for reporting concerns with students, safeguarding concerns etc. this could have been an entry on a system like this that she has looked through... whatever way she's found out, she's in breach of her teachers contract by sharing it with others, especially others who are not school staff! The Head does need informing so they can take action.

Original poster

Prawncaviar · 21/01/2025 16:29

purplecorkheart · 21/01/2025 14:48

This be very factual and unemotional. Unless you know for a fact that she shared it with other parents then don't mention that.

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I know she shared it with two other parents. I suspect she may have shared it more widely than that but have no evidence of this so wouldn’t mention it. I suspect she would think that the other parents she told would not say anything.

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purplecorkheart · 21/01/2025 14:48

Cansomeone · 21/01/2025 14:08

Talk to the head in a calm and factual manner and then leave it to them to determine what happens.

This be very factual and unemotional. Unless you know for a fact that she shared it with other parents then don't mention that.

Cansomeone · 21/01/2025 14:08

Talk to the head in a calm and factual manner and then leave it to them to determine what happens.

JustSawJohnny · 21/01/2025 14:03

Prawncaviar · 21/01/2025 13:45

Yes, this makes sense, I hope school can keep it anonymous as I wouldn’t want my child affected by what I tell school. I don’t know what they can do about it but hopefully school can limit who else is told by speaking with the parent, and notify the parent whose information has been shared.

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If the person has moved to another school in the area, the Head may put in a call to their Head about this.

The reality is that the school could have been fined heavily for such a breach and feel the ramifications quite widely. She was incredibly reckless and is continuing to behave that way by spreading the information she sought out as gossip.

You absolutely need to report this, firstly to the school in question, secondly to her new employer and potentially above school level. The initial school may seek to cover it up for fear of reprisal.

As an ex-teacher, I'm genuinely stunned by her actions. It's staggeringly unprofessional.

iwillfghhjjj · 21/01/2025 13:47

The teacher would only know if it had been gossiped about in school or if they were part of a team around a child but yes you should inform the school.

Original poster

Prawncaviar · 21/01/2025 13:45

HPandthelastwish · 21/01/2025 13:41

You need to tell the school, there will be limits in what they can do as they no longer work there but it does need reporting properly. Then tell the parent if you want but I imagine it'll be a case of shooting the messenger and it'll gall out in you.

Yes, this makes sense, I hope school can keep it anonymous as I wouldn’t want my child affected by what I tell school. I don’t know what they can do about it but hopefully school can limit who else is told by speaking with the parent, and notify the parent whose information has been shared.

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ACynicalDad · 21/01/2025 13:45

School would be legally required to report it as a data breach, please tell them.

IHeartKingThistle · 21/01/2025 13:43

If she had that sort of responsibility then she would have been DSL trained which makes it worse!

Original poster

Prawncaviar · 21/01/2025 13:41

IHeartKingThistle · 21/01/2025 13:37

Secondary Head of Dept here. This kind of info is not freely available to school staff - I've only ever been told it on a need to know basis by people with safeguarding / pastoral responsibilities. This is a confidentiality breach and the school do need to know, especially if this person still has a child at the school.

Thank you. That makes sense because she did have additional responsibilities. I feel awful for the parent involved, it’s not right that people should know this.

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HPandthelastwish · 21/01/2025 13:41

You need to tell the school, there will be limits in what they can do as they no longer work there but it does need reporting properly. Then tell the parent if you want but I imagine it'll be a case of shooting the messenger and it'll gall out in you.

TiramisuThief · 21/01/2025 13:40

I would get in touch with the head and explain what you know.

Don't inform the other parent, the messenger usually gets shot

Whyherewego · 21/01/2025 13:38

I'd just contact the headteacher telling them.what you wrote above. That one of the former teachers was gossiping and indicating they'd received information through the access they had from their role. That, if true, this would clearly be a data breach and you thought head should be aware

LIZS · 21/01/2025 13:38

Possibly if it involved safeguarding issues. If the teacher taught the child they might have known legitimately. A prison sentence is likely public knowledge anyway.

IHeartKingThistle · 21/01/2025 13:37

Secondary Head of Dept here. This kind of info is not freely available to school staff - I've only ever been told it on a need to know basis by people with safeguarding / pastoral responsibilities. This is a confidentiality breach and the school do need to know, especially if this person still has a child at the school.

Original poster

Prawncaviar · 21/01/2025 13:31

LIZS · 21/01/2025 13:27

Was that information already in public domain? It is not a data breach as such, more a breach of confidentiality unless the teacher has been able access records they should not be able to.

I’m not sure of the parents surname so would be unable to search to see if it is in the papers etc but when they shared the information with me they said they accessed it due to looking at information the school had to have on file because of criminal history. I’ve never worked in schools so not sure how true this is, if they would have information on criminal history of parents etc.

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Apollo365 · 21/01/2025 13:29

Prawncaviar · 21/01/2025 13:28

“Unfortunately” I was told verbally.

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Ahh that’s frustrating

Original poster

Prawncaviar · 21/01/2025 13:28

Apollo365 · 21/01/2025 13:26

Oh gosh that’s awful. If they have left I’d inform the head as above. Screenshot the msgs if you can.

“Unfortunately” I was told verbally.

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Apollo365 · 21/01/2025 13:27

Left or was sacked I wonder? Seems very spiteful of them otherwise!

LIZS · 21/01/2025 13:27

Was that information already in public domain? It is not a data breach as such, more a breach of confidentiality unless the teacher has been able access records they should not be able to.

Mumdiva99 · 21/01/2025 13:26

Definitely tell the school. Not sure what they can do if the staff member has left - but they should know.

Apollo365 · 21/01/2025 13:26

Oh gosh that’s awful. If they have left I’d inform the head as above. Screenshot the msgs if you can.