School children should not have access to each others records.

[MitsubishiWarrioress]

DS has come home on a state.

He had massive anger management issues for several years (he is now 12), but we have worked really hard and apart from pre -teen angst I am very proud of the progress he has made in learning to control his anger.

His Junior school were not massively supportive and when we had CAMHS and SS involved, they denied he had any issues that affected him at school. However today, DS's senior school class mates have accessed his file, and the junior school had put it on record that he had SEN and that he had behavioural issues. He has been teased about this today and in his words feels betrayed and let down by the teachers at his old school.

Apparently it is relatively easy to access each others files at school.

Is this normal? DS has admitted to looking at other's, which I think is equally wrong.

Would the junior school not have had to tell me what they were putting on his file?

Is it likely that I will be able to appeal for this to be taken off. In DS's first parents evening, he got a glowing report and it was a testimony to the clean start and break that he had made.

He was so unhappy at junior school at one point that he refused to go. It was insinuated that he was manipulative and fabricating the bullying that was taken place. He was't. I want to nip this in the bud as soon as possible to keep him on the even keel that he has achieved.

He is so sad tonight and feels he is being shadowed by the past.

They are getting at the information on the computer. And as far as I can gather, on the school computer system. Talked to DS, and he says there is access to each others addresses and phone numbers .

I will definitely be talking to someone today.

I will let you know how I get on....

That is shocking.

Definately have words with someone today, it is unacceptable.

Oh, and as far as I thought, I have an open and frank relationship with the school and have attended (or his Dad) all parents evenings and worked with the school positively where needed.

MW - you know this is absolutely outrageous. There is no way that anyone unauthorised should have access to personal data.

Quite frankly, if you don't get the response you want from the school, I'd threaten to go to the press. I know that might seem extreme but this is a really, really serious issue and needs addressing asap.

This is totally outrageous. Schools are covered by the Data Protection Act so this is a serious breach.

I don't know off the top of my head what your legal remedies are as I'm no longer in the UK, but you could get them in SO much shit - go in and scream. Your poor son!

I have spoken to the school and they said that the only way the Students have access to records is if either a teacher has left a LapTop logged on and left the room, or someone knows the password.

They need more details from DS, who is currently sleeping due to spending the night in A and E.

I have to be honest, I am not planning on going to the press as this would be against my principles and am also not interested in pursuing legal action. I will discuss with the school how it happened, what they will do to prevent a repeat incident and assurances that DS will not suffer any fallout,

Whilst this is undoubtedly a massive breach of his confidentiality, the school has a lot going for it and I would rather take a positive role in resolving this than causing trouble for a school that apart from anything has a brilliant reputation for working with Kids that are put of kilter with the mainstream.

Thanks for all the posts and advice though. They were really helpful in me formulating my approach as I am not overly confident at these thing.

I am , this should not happen, its a major Data protection breach, and if I were you I would demand a meeting with the head to know whats going on. This type of information should never be accessed like that by those who should not have access to it. If the head is not helpful, I would take it up with OFSTEAD or the LEA

Why do they need to speak to your DS? Surely they an see that they have made an almighty cockup somewhere along the line, and they need to change the password NOW, and review all their security procedures.

Just wait until the new children's databases come in. All kinds of people will have access to our children's records: TAs,teachers, health visitors. God knows the potential for breaches of confidentiality.

Wow, major data protection breach.
What if a child altered someones records "for a laugh"
The school are in deep deep shit.

abride
Whats this new childrens database about please.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-392629/Big-Brother-database-record-lives-children.html

I'm hoping someone will tell me it's not as invasive as it appears.

Having worked with a lot of sensitive personal data, I know that data like this shouldn't be available via laptop or any other removeable device. There is just no need and the risks are too great.

The only way to access this stuff should be at a fixed terminal in a secure, staff only area. It makes me absolutely furious when I hear of security breaches like this - it's lazy, ameteurish and thoroughly inexcusable.

Mitsubishi, I think it's great that you have such a positive attitude to the school, but just to reiterate I really feel this is the school's breach, not the students. I'm not saying what the students (including your son) did was right - and there may be consequences, especially where this has led to bullying - but the school surely has to recognise that it has a major system failure on it's hands.

This just should not happen. And I would hate to hear that the students were punished while the school took no blame and did nothing to resolve the ongoing security issue.

DS was in a minor Rugby scuffle (he only played for the first time last week), and we thought he had broken his arm. Not at school by the way!

The teacher asked me to speak to DS to ascertain which computer they had been on, which room, teacher etc. Not unrealistic IMO. The teacher I spoke to made it very clear that she agreed that it was unacceptable. I will give them the opportunity to look into it and then ask to speak to them directly. I am not sure if they are browsing a legitimate site and someone has hacked in. But not going to jump to conclusions.
DS's Dad will take on the role of indignant and outraged, the poor school , so I think that angle will be adequately covered. I am not aware that this kind of breach has been made before, and if it is a first and last, as long as it is adequately resolved, I will be satisfied. If there are repeats, obviously I would take a different line. But for now I will 'suck it and see'

Abride - it's called Contactpoint and is up and running already in various areas.

The details of your child will remain accessible until they are 24 - I phoned and asked, as I am considering sending ds back to the UK for sixth form; but may not if this database is in place.

I do like the way you're handling this, Mitsu. Hats off to you for being so reasonable.

I think there are many organisations that handle data amateurishly - hopefully this will be a wake up call for them. I'd like anyone handling personal information to have to undergo proper training, but unfortunately I don't think it's taken seriously enough. Perhaps it's naivity.

Thank you .

It's just the way I approach life.....probably born out of being a wimp and a fear of confrontation, but as I have gotten older has given me the grounds for approaching things with a lot of fore thought and how best to resolve things. It works for me (most of the time).

The posts were still very useful in giving my concerns definition and the courage to make the first phone call. Thanks.

I don't blame you scaryteacher. It bothers me that more people don't get more worried about this.

My life, MitsubishiWarrioress, I think you have handled this amazingly well, and with great clarity. I have a DS who, from what I can tell from you've posted on this thread, has similar behaviour issues to your DS. If we had experrienced this, I would have been beyond livid. I would have wanted heads to roll.

Well done for handling it so well.

This is the reason that I ticked the NO box when DS3's medical questionaire asked wether the school could have direct access to his medical records if necessary.

The school nurse phoned me and suggested that i had not understood the form!

Your DS's data is 'sensitive personal data' under section 2(e) of the Data Protection Act. If this was my DS I'd want somebody's bollocks on a stick.

Good idea going to the school though; someone senior will have a brown trousers moment when they find out what's been happening. If that fails, talk to the ICO.