Data protection act/ school confidentiality

[jollyma]

Our junior school asked pupils to write their name, dob and home address on a story competition entry then send it off to a private company. Is this a breach of confidentiality or data protection act?

Nothing to do with the data protection act.

Parents should have been asked if this was acceptable and given their agreement, but it's not covered by confidentiality/the DPA as far as I know.

Thanks. Is it not to do with data protection because they didn't take details off the computer?

Depends how/whether the company it's going off to actually keeps/stores the info. Google information comissioner for more info.

The school has not provided data itself, merely helped the children to enter a competition. That is not a breach of the Data Protection Act. If the company concerned is not registered with the Information Commissioner they may be in breach but the school certainly isn't as far as I can see. However, I agree with PatriciaHolm that it would have been better if parents had been asked first.

My gripe with it is that they should have put the schools address not home addresses. It isn't strictly a scam but is a complete rip off. The company want 16 pounds a book for the work compilation!

Ahhh, I wondered if it would be one of those. Every child "wins" and entry, that'll be £16 please.

You know, the school could Desk Top Publish its own storybook and take it along to a printer's. If you printed in one colour, your costs certainly wouldn't be more than the competition company.

The only economy of scale I can see for the compco is for illustrated/decorated colour books, where they could do large runs of background artwork, and then short runs of overlays with the poems for each school. And even that might still be cheaper.

Hmm, you've given me an idea now. I should be helping my local primary school do this - all the profit can go to school funds.

I really dont understand how the school fall for these schemes. SOME teachers seem very naive There was an article on the mail on sunday this week about this very company. They went bust last year owing lots of money and set back up a few days later doing the same thing. There are some really disappointed kids who thought they had won but now know their entries wont be in the book because parents have been advised not to send the form back. It would be a good idea for the school to publish and sell it for a small amount, sounds like lots of work though!