Data has always been central to the efficient running of any organisation, in fact the Data Protection Act goes back to the 1980’s (1984 to be precise!).
When the much-publicised General Data Protection Relations (GDPR) became law just over a year ago, on 25th May 2018, there was much anticipation, even apprehension, coupled with a desire to get things right and not fall foul of regulation.
Schools, by their very nature, hold vast records of sensitive data, Amanda Moore, SIPS Project Development Manager comments…
“It’s fair to say we have all been on a journey, sometimes, in the early days, it felt like a roller-coaster, but we always ensured accurate, professional and timely advice right from day 1. I work within SIPS Risk Management Team, our focus is on supporting education to reduce risk and to do the right thing.
So we set out on an aspirational journey to build a GDPR centre of excellence. This has been no easy task, it involved understanding at an in-depth level the law and the direction from the Information Commissioners Office, myself and colleagues worked hard to complete a demanding, yet very worthwhile qualification. Having passed the end of course exam we had launched, refined and expanded a dedicated GDPR service line to support schools in safeguarding data.
Today we have a host of tools, to support you, as well as offering an outsourced DPO service if you do not have a DPO in school. Our support includes face-to-face, telephone or email advice when you need it and can also support your DPO if you have one. We can carry out ‘Data Walks’ to assess school specific points of action followed by comprehensive follow up support, as well as training for your staff and governors. All in all, we are proud of achieving so much in so short a time, we are recharged and ready to ensure we stay current, gain further information and support each school’s
quest to become data safe.”
