Pupils' sensitive data shared 'by mistake'

A head teacher has apologised after hundreds of pupils' private data was shared with two parents.

Wellsway School in Keynsham, near Bristol, has been reported to the Information Commissioner's Office after 86,000 lines of sensitive information was emailed to a couple.

They were sent the data after they submitted a Freedom of Information request because they felt the secondary school's withdrawal room was being used excessively.

The school said it had "immediately followed through with all procedures and informed parents" when it became aware of the date breach.

It was only after having the spreadsheet of data for a few weeks that the couple, who wish to remain anonymous, realised it contained comprehensive data on children.

As well as their name and date of birth, it listed whether they were considered to have special educational needs or be on an educational health and care plan.

It also contained details of child protection orders and whether pupils are eligible for free school meals.

Head teacher Rob Pearsall said the family assured the school they had deleted the data.

"We have done all we can to make sure that data has not been shared.

"It was a regrettable mistake and we have apologised to parents," he added.

The couple had initially sent the FOI because their "happy and positive" daughter was frequently being sent to the school's withdrawal room.

Schools commonly have such a space for disruptive students, but the parents say it is being utilised to punish "petty" rule infractions at Wellsway.

The girl's mother said the school, which is run by the Futura Learning Partnership, had been dismissive of their concerns.

Her father said the school had made them feel "we were the only ones this was happening to".

"It wasn't. This is happening to lots of children and for very petty things in the class room."

"The Department for Education guidance states children should only be removed from lessons if their behaviour is extremely disruptive," said the girl's mother, a former teacher herself.

"Whether [rule breaking] is minor or severe, it's the same punishment. It's a sledgehammer approach," he claims.

The school says that children sent to the withdrawal room are given suitable and equivalent work to complete.

When asked if pupils might be losing out on education, Mr Pearsall replied: "All I can do is give assurances that teachers carefully monitor and work with children to make sure they don't lose out and the do catch up.

"The data we have internally and the success [pupils] have in their GCSEs would reflect that does not happen."

He said that an Ofsted inspection carried out before Christmas had found that the school's behavioural policy was good.