just looking for some advice. Does anybody know what the situation is with access to school information and access to the school when you have parental responsibilities.
My son’s Sixth Form College is refusing to give me access to any information about him. They were were quite abusive telling me to stay away from the school.
The mother made extremely nasty allegations, but they were completely dismissed by Children’s Services and then both Children’s Services and the Police.
I have parental responsibility, can a Sixth Form College refused to acknowledge that?
Thanks
In the UK, parents or guardians with parental responsibility generally have a right to access their child’s school records under the Education (Pupil Information) (England) Regulations 2005 and data protection law.
Key Points:
Parental Responsibility and Access Rights: Parents with parental responsibility, even if separated or divorced, usually have the right to access educational records. However, if a court order restricts access, the school must respect that.
Accessing School Records:
Parents can make a written request to the school for a copy of their child’s educational record.
The school must respond within 15 school days for state schools, or within a reasonable timeframe for academies and private schools.
Scope of Records: Access includes academic performance, behavioral information, and other records related to the child’s education. However, sensitive information about other children or confidential teacher notes may be excluded.
Data Protection Considerations: Schools must comply with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). If the child is mature enough to understand their rights (usually around age 13 in the UK), they may consent to or deny access to certain information.
This ensures that parents are kept informed, while also balancing the privacy rights of older children. Hope this helps.