Schools Minister Nick Gibb said children’s biometric data was sensitive personal information and parents must have the right to prevent its use by schools and colleges. Pupils also have the right to refuse to participate and these provisions are explained in the guidance.

The advice has been updated to take into account new measures in the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, which has now gained Royal Assent. It will clearly set out to schools and colleges that use biometric recognition systems, such as fingerprint identification and facial scanning, that:

• For all pupils in schools and colleges under 18, they must obtain the written consent of a parent before they take and process their child’s biometric data.
• They must treat the data with appropriate care and must comply with data protection principles as set out in the Data Protection Act 1998.
• They must provide alternative means for accessing services where a parent or pupil has refused consent.

Frequently asked questions and optional templates for notification and consent will also be included in the advice.

The Government has been clear that parents should have the right to prevent the use of their child’s personal data in automated biometric recognition systems. This commitment was underlined in the Coalition’s manifesto, Our programme for government.

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said:

Biometrics in schools is a sensitive issue. We want schools to be in no doubt of their responsibilities when it comes to young people’s personal data.

I have heard from many angry parents after they have learned that their children’s personal data was being used by schools without their knowledge. The new legislation gives the power back to parents, as it requires parental consent before the information can be collected.

In the age of the internet, identity and the integrity of biometric data are of increasing importance. Young people need to understand from an early age the sensitivity of such personal data. The provisions of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 and the accompanying advice to schools will help to reinforce that message.

Some schools and colleges use biometric technologies such as fingerprint identification and facial scanning. These may be used to record attendance, grant access to libraries and to process cashless payments. The benefits to schools include site safety and the speed and ease of access to services.

The consultation is aimed at proprietors, governing bodies, head teachers, principals and staff. The Department wants schools and colleges to be able to accommodate the new duties without increasing the burden on them. The consultation seeks feedback on the clarity of the Department’s advice ahead of its final publication later in the year. It runs for 12 weeks and closes on 3 August 2012.

Further Education Minister John Hayes said:

It is absolutely right that what we do in schools is consistent with the approach in colleges and, in that spirit, I welcome this consultation.

Contact details

Central newsdesk
for media enquiries
Telephone: 020 7783 8300

Public Communication Unit: General enquiries
for general enquiries
Telephone: 0370 000 2288

http://www.education.gov.uk/inthenews/inthenews/a00209036/parents-given-power-of-veto-on-schools-use-of-biometric-information

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said children’s biometric data was sensitive personal information and parents must have the right to prevent its use by schools and colleges. Pupils also have the right to refuse to participate and these provisions are explained in the guidance.

The advice has been updated to take into account new measures in the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, which has now gained Royal Assent. It will clearly set out to schools and colleges that use biometric recognition systems, such as fingerprint identification and facial scanning, that:

• For all pupils in schools and colleges under 18, they must obtain the written consent of a parent before they take and process their child’s biometric data.
• They must treat the data with appropriate care and must comply with data protection principles as set out in the Data Protection Act 1998.
• They must provide alternative means for accessing services where a parent or pupil has refused consent.

Frequently asked questions and optional templates for notification and consent will also be included in the advice.

The Government has been clear that parents should have the right to prevent the use of their child’s personal data in automated biometric recognition systems. This commitment was underlined in the Coalition’s manifesto, Our programme for government.

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said:

Biometrics in schools is a sensitive issue. We want schools to be in no doubt of their responsibilities when it comes to young people’s personal data.

I have heard from many angry parents after they have learned that their children’s personal data was being used by schools without their knowledge. The new legislation gives the power back to parents, as it requires parental consent before the information can be collected.

In the age of the internet, identity and the integrity of biometric data are of increasing importance. Young people need to understand from an early age the sensitivity of such personal data. The provisions of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 and the accompanying advice to schools will help to reinforce that message.

Some schools and colleges use biometric technologies such as fingerprint identification and facial scanning. These may be used to record attendance, grant access to libraries and to process cashless payments. The benefits to schools include site safety and the speed and ease of access to services.

The consultation is aimed at proprietors, governing bodies, head teachers, principals and staff. The Department wants schools and colleges to be able to accommodate the new duties without increasing the burden on them. The consultation seeks feedback on the clarity of the Department’s advice ahead of its final publication later in the year. It runs for 12 weeks and closes on 3 August 2012.

Further Education Minister John Hayes said:

It is absolutely right that what we do in schools is consistent with the approach in colleges and, in that spirit, I welcome this consultation.

Contact details

Central newsdesk
for media enquiries
Telephone: 020 7783 8300

Public Communication Unit: General enquiries
for general enquiries
Telephone: 0370 000 2288

http://www.education.gov.uk/inthenews/inthenews/a00209036/parents-given-power-of-veto-on-schools-use-of-biometric-information

Please be aware that this is an Act and not guidelines therefore parents must “Opt In” before any biometric data is taken. Projects have updated the Parent Letter within our Implementation Pack and is currently making schools aware of this new Act.

We can provide a copy of the new act surrounding biometric registrations. Please contact us using our contact page.

• Workforce Reform – need to reduce amount of administration time for school meals
• Corporate Reform – to reduce youth crime, bullying, anti-social behaviour, petty theft
• Health & Wellbeing – to have school meal data to feed into obesity reduction and other children’s health related strategies

What did you do?
A ‘Data Warehousing Project’ was set up – through the installation of a central control and central reporting system. This is a major 12 month programme, which is still in the roll-out phase with 4 new schools per week. A high level evaluation of the project is underway with a completion target of September 2008.

What system do you use?
In secondary schools a mixture of biometric, photo recognition biometric fingerprints or cards is used. In primary schools, the system is Touch Screen photo identification. The
schools had a choice based on suitability to their particular needs. Secondary Schools made a contribution to overall costs of hardware.

Why did you choose it?
A market leader supplier was chosen because of prior experience with them and because they were willing to work with the authority to help develop a new system unlike any in existence. A company was required that could be trusted to deliver to the authority’s specifications. – Nationwide Retail Systems Ltd were awarded the contract.

Benefits

• Data Collection The central control and central reporting system permits a large amount of data to be collected. By 2pm every day, details can be extracted how many meals are being sold/served across the borough. This can be broken down school by school and also down to an individual to look at eating patterns. Menus can be checked to see if they are meeting school food standards. This information can be forwarded to the PCT and Healthy Schools so that they can feed this into their overall strategies for Croydon and for individual schools. The data can be analysed so that support for schools and for children is better targeted.
• FSM An increase of over 5% in uptake has been achieved; it is now over 50%. There is complete anonymity with regard to FSM uptake. The percentage of FSM uptake and money allocated to FSM which hasn’t been taken up can be calculated.
• Cash Prior to Central Control System, all cash was held in school bank account – now all cash comes into a centrally held account. A fully on-line Parent Pay system is in place. All bank statements are dealt with and reconciled centrally. Debtors are picked up and parents contacted more efficiently and quickly; a parent letter is in the software.
• Monitoring It is possible to see exactly what is going on in the borough around school meal provision irrespective of who is providing the catering.

Challenges

• PayPoint cards have to be paid for – they are £1.50 per card. However, if parents pay on-line no card is needed.
• Transaction charges are set at twenty five pence per transaction; to avoid schools having to pay these, the centrally accrued interest is used to offset the charges.
• School Administration. Some negative responses were received from school administration staff who feared that they might lose their jobs if they lost the control they had over school meal administration to central control. Effective communications with Head Teachers and governors was essential to overcome the negativity.
• Training. Catering staff needed additional training. The ambitious plan – 4 new schools per week – meant that this had to be thought through in advance. School administration staff also had to be trained.
• Service is a little bit slower on the changeover days but it does not impinge on the school timetable.

Advice to others

• The key to this process is partnership – from the outset establish a high level project board – a collective of expertise from across council departments and partners. During the roll-out phase ensure regular planning meetings are held
• It has been a massive learning experience. The system as it stands, while designed to meet Croydon’s needs and, having been externally audited, should meet the needs of other education establishments.
• It is also crucial that during the planning/setting up you have a practical operations person who goes to the schools looking for best position for POS tills.