Is this a data breach on class app?

[hangryeyes]

My DC’s school has sent a letter regarding them being offered additional help via the school class work app. To share it out they have sent the same generic letter addressed to ‘dear parent’ but assigned it to each child collectively, so I can see in the app that Biff, Chip and Kipper are receiving additional maths tuition. Is this a breach?

My DN is currently attending 'Covid catch up group' a small group of children start after school on a Wednesday so all the pupils and patents know those are the children who require additional support. Not sure why it would be a secret

It’s not great at all. Kids will inevitability tell parents who is in ‘the group’ but it shouldn’t be accessible for all parents to see really. I am a teacher. We bcc parents if we are sending info about a catch up group via email etc.

So you can see the other parents who have been sent the letter? Not something I could get worked up about, all the kids in the class will know anyway when kids go out for extra support. My dc can tell me who goes out for what and why, primary kids aren't very secretive

It's not great but it's a bit picky to be calling it a data breach. As others have pointed out, who is in the booster group is not a secret. If there is anything else showing (eg the parents' email, or the child's test score) then that is.

So... Are they essentially sharing an extra maths lesson within the app? And given you have to consent to the use of your data within most apps now, I'm guessing you agreed to similar and therefore not a breach really. It's an extra maths lesson, not their health status. Don't get a complex about "other people know my child needs help with schoolwork", otherwise your DC might feel it's a negative thing.

How amazing that your school has extra help to give. Focus your energy on working with teachers. Not against them.

It’s not embarrassing to have a child that needs extra help. Be grateful they are getting the extra help they need

Technically possibly. But not one worth getting worked up over since there’s no risk to your information and kids working in a small group would know the other kids in the group anyway.

Is it only the parents of the other children receiving the help that can see?
I would point this out to the school, as a teacher I don't think this is ok.

Yes, technically it is a breach and the school should have been more careful. However, in their defence, there isn’t much impact on privacy if the kids could tell you who else was in the group anyway.