Your Data Rights

You have 9 rights in relation to the data we hold.  These are:

• The right to see any data we keep on record
• The right to request changes where errors exist
• The right to request that something is removed from the records/data
• The right to request that information is not used in any way other than originally intended
• The right to have your data used by somebody else (transferred)
• The right to object to data being used for marketing or other commercial purposes
• The right for your data to be used for your education only
• The right to complain about how the data has been gathered and used by the college
• The right to compensation if damages have occurred as a result of our data handling

What information is collected and how and what’s it used for?

The Oldham College is the registered data controller with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

As a college we require data from you to enable us to provide the services that we do.  This data can be as simple and as routine as your address, a contact phone number or any medical conditions you may have.  You may give us information about other categories of data, including your racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, physical or mental health, or sexual orientation, which will be treated as very sensitive.  Such information not only allows the college to fulfil its legal duties, but also ensures that you and your family are well served by the college for routine matters as well as the everyday task of providing you with an education.

In most cases, this data will be provided by you when you apply to join the college, when you enrol and whilst you are here and will then be ‘processed’ in the college information systems.  Be assured that our systems are:

• Password protected
• Restricted to staff members and those with a ‘need to know’
• Regularly backed up and securely stored offsite
• Managed in accordance with the law and local guidance

There are also other types of information that will be collected about you, that may not come directly from yourself.  These might include our CCTV recordings, attendance data, results data, pastoral information, referrals to external agencies, your usage of our websites and much more.  Although we only collect the data we need and keep it in line with the college’s Data Retention Schedule. 

If we want to get back in touch with you after you have left the college, use your images on posters or websites, or for adults, inform your parents then we will ask for your consent. 

Sharing Data with partners and agencies

The Oldham College does not store your data outside the European Economic Area.

We will always to endeavour to tell you what we are doing with your data.  However, on occasion and unplanned we may be required to pass on data to other people / agencies.  The circumstances in which we would likely do so, would include:

• At the request of a court of law
• Where we believe your child is at risk of harm
• We are legally required to do so
• At the request of police services in relation to a crime

We will always try to notify you when we have passed on data to somebody else.  However, it is likely that on occasion time-scales may limit our ability to do this.

List of Partners and Agencies used

Local Authorities Services – Careers Connexion Service, Social Services, Oldham MBC, Rochdale MBC, Tameside MBC, Manchester MBC, Combined Authority Partnership

Safeguarding agencies – GM Police,

Software Services – Think Alumni, ForSkills, AbIntegro, Microsoft

Awarding Organisations – City & Guilds, Pearsons, AQA, Cache, UAL have the most number of learners with us but there are a number of others

Partner Universities – UCLAN, Sheffield Hallam, Huddersfield, Bedfordshire, Teesside, Open University

Greater Manchester Projects – GM Higher, HEAT Project, Pathways to Productivity

Government Agencies – Department for Education, Education and Skills Funding Agency, Ofsted, QAA, Office for Students, Apprenticeship Service

Data Protection Officer

If you need to contact us to raise a complaint, in the first instance you can contact us by emailing Data Protection Officer, or complete the Complaints & Compliments form on the website or if you feel we have not fulfilled your data rights then you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office.