GDPR & Data Protection training for school staff

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Schools handle vast amounts of personal information every day, including pupil records, safeguarding information, staff data, parental communications, photographs, assessment data and increasingly, information held within cloud services and AI-powered systems.

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Our GDPR & Data Protection training for Schools has been fully updated for 2026 to help schools understand their responsibilities under UK data protection law and provide staff with practical guidance on handling personal information safely, securely and lawfully.

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Designed specifically for schools, academies and multi-academy trusts, this course translates complex legal requirements into straightforward, practical guidance that staff can apply in their everyday roles.

 

Why is this training important?

Schools have a legal responsibility to comply with UK data protection legislation and to ensure that personal information is processed lawfully, fairly, securely and transparently.

 

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) expects organisations to provide appropriate training and awareness to staff who handle personal information.

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At the same time, schools face increasing challenges from:

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• Cybersecurity threats and ransomware attacks

• Increased use of cloud-based systems

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools

• Subject Access Requests (SARs)

• Data breaches and information sharing risks

• Growing expectations around accountability and governance

 

Many data breaches occur not because of sophisticated attacks, but because of simple mistakes such as emails being sent to the wrong recipient, inappropriate sharing of information or failure to follow established procedures.

 

This course helps staff understand their responsibilities and reduces the risk of costly mistakes.

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Fully Updated for 2026

This course has been comprehensively revised to reflect:

• UK GDPR

• Data Protection Act 2018

• Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR)

• Data (Use and Access) Act 2025

• Current Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) guidance

• Modern school data protection challenges

The updated course includes new guidance on:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• Cloud computing and international data transfers

• Subject Access Requests

• Complaint handling requirements

• Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs)

• Cybersecurity and ransomware risks

• Governance and accountability

• CCTV and biometric systems

• Modern school case studies and examples

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What Does the Course Cover?

Session 1 – Introduction to UK Data Protection Law

• UK GDPR and UK data protection law

• Personal data and special category data

• Data protection principles

• Roles and responsibilities

• Privacy by Design

 

Session 2 – Lawful Bases and Consent

• Public Task

• Legal Obligation

• Legitimate Interests

• Consent

• Children's information

• Lawful processing in schools

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Session 3 – Information Security and Data Breaches

• Information security

• Cybersecurity awareness

• Personal data breaches

• Reporting requirements

• Staff responsibilities

 

Session 4 – Subject Access Requests and Individual Rights

• Individual rights

• Subject Access Requests

• Children's rights

• Handling requests

• Complaints and escalation

 

Session 5 – Practical Data Protection Issues in Schools

• Email and communications

• Social media

• Photography and video

• CCTV

• Biometric systems

• Cloud services

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• Remote working

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Sessions 6-10 below are for staff with specific data protection roles. Sessions 1-5 above are for ALL school staff.

 

Session 6 – Privacy Notices, Transparency and Cookies

• Privacy notices

• Transparency requirements

• Website compliance

• Cookies

• Complaint handling

 

Session 7 – Data Retention and Data Sharing

• Records management

• Retention schedules

• Secure disposal

• Information sharing

• Safeguarding considerations

 

Session 8 – Governance and Accountability

• Accountability requirements

• School policies and procedures

• Data Protection Officers

• Staff responsibilities

• Compliance monitoring

 

Session 9 – DPIAs, Risk Management and AI

• Data Protection Impact Assessments

• Risk assessment

• Artificial Intelligence

• Automated decision-making

• Human oversight

 

Session 10 – Compliance Checklist and Staff Responsibilities

• Practical compliance guidance

• Everyday good practice

• Security awareness

• Reporting concerns

• Building a positive data protection culture

 

Who Should Complete This Training?

This course is suitable for:

• Headteachers

• School Business Managers

• Senior Leadership Teams

• Teachers

• Teaching Assistants

• Administrative Staff

• Governors and Trustees

• Data Protection Leads

• Office Staff

• Support Staff

• Any employee who handles personal information

 

Benefits of the Course

By completing this course, staff will:

✓ Understand their responsibilities under UK data protection law

✓ Recognise and respond appropriately to Subject Access Requests

✓ Understand how to identify and report data breaches

✓ Handle personal information more confidently

✓ Understand the risks associated with cloud services and AI

✓ Improve information security awareness

✓ Support the school's compliance and governance arrangements

✓ Help protect pupils, staff and the wider school community

 

Practical, School-Focused Training

Unlike generic GDPR courses, this training has been designed specifically for schools and uses real-world educational examples that staff can easily relate to.

The course focuses on practical understanding rather than legal jargon, making it suitable for all staff regardless of their role or previous experience.

Certificate of Completion

Upon successful completion, learners receive a certificate which can be used to demonstrate ongoing data protection awareness and support the school's staff training records.

Protecting Information, Building Trust

Good data protection is about more than compliance. It helps schools protect pupils, support safeguarding, maintain trust and ensure that personal information is handled responsibly.

Our fully updated GDPR & Data Protection for Schools course provides the knowledge and confidence staff need to meet these responsibilities in today's increasingly digital school environment.

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