Best Practice Update

Why data retention matters in black text.  Blue blobby man. Data Protection Education logo.

We are asked a lot about retention schedules and keeping file when a pupil moves onto another school.  
This short video explains the basics behind data retention and the implications of keeping data for longer than required.



  Knowledge Bank
We have a retention schedule on our Knowledge Bank portal where you can check the retention period for all types of files in  your organisation.

Visit our Records Management Best Pract

Meeting Digital Standards in schools and colleges in white and orange text on a blue background.  Background image of children working in school. Data Protection Education logo

This article is for all schools, colleges and multi academy trusts as a first step towards looking at the DfE Digital Standards for Schools and Colleges.


These standards should be used as guidelines to support your school or college use the right digital infrastructure and technology.

The SLT digital lead is usually someone with teaching experience. They will act as a link between: 

technical staff  the SLT  curriculum leads

A White keyboard with a blue key with white text saying Subject Access Request

The DfE have recently published updates to their Data Protection toolkit.  Previously there had been very little guidance in the toolkit about how to respond to Subject Access Requests.  There is now a specific section on this and an extra update about responding to other data rights requests such as changing, deleting or restricting of personal information.

  1. Social Media Best Practice Area
  2. Lettings Best Practice Area
  3. Appropriate filtering and monitoring definitions
  4. MFA Bombing - What is it?
  5. Protecting your Social Media Accounts
  6. Why we recommend using checklists
  7. Product Focus on Checklists : Initial Trust Plan
  8. Product Focus on Checklists : End of Term Checklist
  9. Product Focus on Checklists : Information and Cyber Security
  10. Product Focus on Checklists : Social Media
  11. Product Focus on Checklists : Lettings
  12. Product Focus on Checklists : Record of Processing
  13. Milk Island: The secret location that allows children to view restricted content on Google Maps
  14. Why Data Should Stay Put: Benefits of Keeping Data in Its Original System
  15. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Retention and Destruction
  16. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Migration
  17. Product Focus on Checklists : Biometrics
  18. Product Focus on Checklists : Supplier Due Diligence
  19. Free Cyber help, advice and training with the Cyber Resilience Centres
  20. The Perils of Paper: The Printing Vulnerability
  21. Product Focus on Checklists : FOI
  22. Product Focus on Checklists : Governors and Data
  23. Product Focus on Checklists : DPIA
  24. Product Focus on Checklists : Site Moves
  25. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Breaches
  26. Product Focus on Checklists : Subject Access Requests
  27. Product Focus on Checklists : Bring your own device
  28. Product Focus on Checklists : Working out of school/offsite
  29. Cyber Attack on a School
  30. Product Focus on Checklists : Redaction
  31. Why Due Diligence is Important: Fake apps
  32. Product Focus on Checklists : CCTV
  33. Product Focus on Checklists : Clear desk
  34. Product Focus on Checklists : Commitment to compliance
  35. Product Focus on Checklists : Photos and video
  36. Product Focus on Checklists : Passwords
  37. Product Focus on Checklists : Information Classification
  38. Free cyber training for staff
  39. DfE Digital Standards Update
  40. The Mother of all Breaches
  41. International Data Transfers (part 1): Navigating Cross-Border Data Transfers: Understanding EU SCCs, UK Addendum, and UK IDTA
  42. ClassCharts Possible Data Breach
  43. Where is your data stored?
  44. IAPP looks at AI privacy risks
  45. If you suspect a financial scam .....
  46. School Focus: St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School | Brighton
  47. Guardians of Privacy: 16. Social Media Checklist
  48. Guardians of Privacy: 15. Navigating Social Media in Educational Settings Summary
  49. Guardians of Privacy: 14. Social Media and Cyber Bullying
  50. Guardians of Privacy: 13. Social Media, Copyright and Intellectual Property
  51. Guardians of Privacy: 12. Social Media and Going Viral
  52. Guardians of Privacy: 11. Staff Social Media Accounts
  53. Guardians of Privacy: 10. Social Media and Cookies
  54. Guardians of Privacy: 9. Social Media and Morality
  55. New Resources for Schools from the ICO
  56. Guardians of Privacy: 8. Social Media Policies
  57. Guardians of Privacy: 7. Social Media Data Retention
  58. Guardians of Privacy: 6. Posting Safely
  59. Guardians of Privacy: 5. Social Media and Consent
  60. Guardians of Privacy: 4. Social Media Access Control
  61. Guardians of Privacy: 3. Social Media Channels
  62. Guardians of Privacy: 2. Law and Regulations
  63. Guardians of Privacy: 1. Social media, privacy and children
  64. The ICO reprimands a Multi Academy Trust
  65. KCSIE: Filtering, Monitoring and Privacy
  66. Guidance for the use of school email and applying email retention in schools
  67. Data Protection Tips for Early Years Settings
  68. Children's Privacy around the world is a puzzle
  69. Trust Initial Plan Checklist Update
  70. Records Management Best Practice Update
  71. Governors and Data Best Practice Area Update
  72. What do I need to redact?
  73. Trust Initial Plan for Data Protection Compliance (for Multi Academy Trusts)
  74. Google for Education Resources: Helping IT Admins meet DfE digital and technology standards
  75. Lettings Best Practice and Guidance
  76. Considerations when migrating to a new MIS
  77. Public bodies and sensitive data
  78. Get a DPE Badge for your website!
  79. ICO: 10 Step guide to sharing information to safeguard children
  80. Help after a Cyber Attack/Incident
  81. Data Protection and Cyber Security (Inset Day) Training Ideas
  82. How KCSIE is linked to Cyber Strategy
  83. Handling Freedom of Information Requests the right way
  84. Where's Harry the Hacker?
  85. The ICO Reprimands a school
  86. Subject Access Requests (SARs)
  87. Redaction Guidelines Updated
  88. Using WhatsApp in Schools
  89. How to contact us for support, subject access requests, data breaches and FOI's
  90. FOI: Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete
  91. FOI: Henry Jackson Society
  92. FOI: Vaccination Justifications
  93. How the Record of Processing Can Help You
  94. What does a Data Protection Officer Do?
  95. Blog: Best Practice on the Retention of Child Protection Information
  96. Carrying out Supplier Due Diligence
  97. Email and retention periods
  98. How Long Should You Keep Personal Data For?
  99. Sharing this year’s Nativity play online
  100. A quick introduction to the Phishing Simulation tool
  101. B&H FoI: Racist/religious incidents/bullying
  102. Protocol for Setting Up and Delivery of Online Teaching and Learning
  103. Class Dojo International Data Sharing
  104. Model Publication Scheme: Amendments, Improvements and Updates
  105. Transparency
  106. Parents and students covertly recording conversations
  107. SAR? ER? FOI?
  108. Research projects and GDPR
  109. Secure file transfer of files using Royal Mail
  110. Emergency contacts and consent
  111. Key elements of a successful DPIA
  112. FOI Publication Schemes
  113. Best Practice for Managing Photos and Video
  114. New Drip Feeds: Recognise and Respond to Subject Access Request
  115. When to contact the Data Protection Officer?
  116. National child measurement programme
  117. Make sure DPE is your registered DPO with the ICO
  118. Headteacher fined for breach of data protection legislation

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