Help! Advice on deputy headteacher asking me about my home life in front of another parent unknown to me!

[Halfpintmumma]

Hi I’ve had an issue with my sons deputy head teacher, she’s asked me if I was still with my sons father, because she had two different addresses one for me & one for my sons father, now I’m not really bothered her asking this as parents don’t always stay together & can co-parent well, which is the case for us. but what has bothered me is another parent who I do not know was sitting in the office with us at this time, I feel like my right to privacy has been invaded. Is this a breach of data protection? What do I do? Who do I report this to?

I would not expect to be asked about my relationship status in front of another parent. And it was too late for OP to ask to talk privately because the DH had already said that they had two addresses, one for each parent.

A member of the leadership team should absolutely know better, and yes, as a retired teacher and member of the SLT, I absolutely would bring it up. Not necessarily with all guns blazing, but with concern and asking for more care re data and more consideration for confidentiality in future.

I'm a teacher, and I'm shocked that this happened.

For those saying this isn't a big deal, you clearly have no idea about the amount of mandatory training ALL teachers must do around data protection.

I would definitely flag this. If only to make sure it never happens again, or worse, which could easily result in the deputy head losing their job.

But the DHT didn’t divulge anything, she asked a question.

Why are you so over sensitive about someone knowing you are no longer with your child’s father? It seems a strange thing to get so worked up about.

Did the member of staff read out your home address? Simply asking if there are 2 (unspecified) addresses for your son is not a data breach. Personally identifiable information is covered under data protection legislation and this isn't PII.

She did, she divulged two different addresses

I actually dont know if knowing if you are living with your sons father or not is 'data' in a gdpr sense and I did do my gdpr training.

But it is personal information i wouldnt want shared with a stranger

I supppse i cant see that labelling it a data breach makes much difference. The dpo would put a line in a spreadsheet and say 'dont do it again' and the same can happen by saying 'that wasnt very sensitive, dont do it again'

Of course it is. It is information about the op. Who can clearly be identified by the person who overheard it

No it wasn’t. Unless the DHT read out both of the addresses AND your full name, it’s not a breach.

Maybe you need to do some updated training on what constitutes a data breach. Asking someone a question about their relationship status is not a data breach because clearly the person asking the question didn’t know that data.

So the earlier poster who lectures in data protection is wrong? Really?

I can't believe the amount of ignorance on this thread and how confidently people are spouting absolute bullshit

its standard on any thread complaining about schools/teachers. Absolutely bizarre!

That’s not what the OP said happened. she’s asked me if I was still with my sons father, because she had two different addresses one for me & one for my sons father
She asked if they were together, she didn’t divulge anything addresses.

Information was divulged though. That there are two addresses registered. That's personal information. I can't believe how dense people are being.

What absolute nonsense.

Personal information was divulged (two addresses for one child) and op was present therefore identifiable

I'm a teacher, and I'm shocked that this happened.

It's not professional at all.

Get a grip 😂😂😂

This is not a breach of Data and you need to have a word with yourself. You are clearly hard work.

She didn't divulge the actual addressees but she divulge that there were two addresses

This is very definition of a data breach.

Training in some organisations must be very poor if people can't grasp this

The school did not have the data on your home arrangements - so it’s not data protection. You could have just said you would email her.

Complaining would identify a need for more training which could potentially prevent a far more serious breach. She'd be doing them a favour by highlighting an issue

Training in some organisations must be very poor if people can't grasp this

A lot of these responses won't be coming from people who work in organisations or even work 🤷🏻‍♀️

The grown up and mature response

The teacher should have been more careful and it would be fair enough to say that to her. “Reporting “ her is a ridiculous and spiteful overreaction.

I think you're over reacting really. I sat in A&E last week and could over hear everything said at the reception desk, including everyone's names and addresses and reasons why they had come in.