CONSULTATION
Helping you make the most of your data protection and privacy compliance, through audits, training, action plans, stakeholder engagement and risk management.
CONFIGURATION
Whether it is at the ‘idea’ and design phase for your solutions or the ‘pilot” and deployment phase, help identify areas to support Data Protection by Design and by Default.
COMMUNICATION
Develop clear language for schools, from contracts and Data Processing Agreements through to User Guides and supporting materials for children.
Latest News
We always try to ensure that we share as much as we can publicly and that where there are helpful articles that we can point people towards, we will do so as part of our ongoing, free service. We do try to make sure that this is done impartially and fairly, and we are always happy to accept contributions from others.
Have a look below for some of our latest articles and editorials.
Simplifying the Relationship Between Schools and EdTech Vendors
A primary source of confusion and conflict between schools, EdTech suppliers, and other agencies often lies in defining their exact relationships with each other, and the subsequent relationships with the students, staff, and families involved. It should be straightforward – schools as data controllers, and suppliers as data processors. However, issues persist due to the varying circumstances, as pointed out by the ICO Helpline.
Before we proceed, it’s important to agree on specific terms and definitions, consider different perspectives, and then formulate what we believe should be the standard procedure. This article isn’t intended to be a basic GDPR course, or a step-by-step guide, but rather aims to provoke thought and provide pertinent questions for self-assessment, regardless of your role in the process.
Let’s take a quick look at what the GDPR says are the definitions of key terms.
Have you ever wondered what GDPR Compliance means for EdTech Vendors or for Schools?
I wrote this piece a while ago as a way of pulling together some of the guidance and ideas I have previously shared on X (formerly known as Twitter) and never got round to publishing it. I can’t think why but I have been working on some simpler guidance for EdTech vendors to help them understand their roles when working with and on behalf of schools.
Read more
Accountability and Transparency
Gain a better understanding about school needs for data protection and privacy
Learn how to provide scenarios to customers that make their life easier – show your accountability and demonstrate your transparency
A few things we’re great at
We understand how schools work, how Local Authorites work and how EdTech companies work. We understand the importance of Privacy in the connected world and the importance of supporting schools making the right decisions. We understand the limitations that EdTech companies face and the difficulties schools have in changing their own culture.
Data Protection by Design and by Default
Set the tone right at the very beginning.
Culture Change
Ensure your staff are in the right place with the right knowledge to support your business and to help you support your customers.
Accountability and Effectiveness
Knowing where you are is part of the first step of any journey. Keeping a track of where you want to go and how to get there won’t work without it.
Training
Whether face to face, remote webinars or online learning, training is key all aspects of data protection and privacy.
GETTING THINGS DONE
The Secret of Success
The Department for Education’s Data Protection Toolkit for Schools would not have become what it is without the support of people like Tony Sheppard.
BECTA
As a member of Becta’s Information Management and Data Protection working group, Tony has contributed to guidance to schools since mid-2000s
EduGeek.net
A frequent collaborator on the community for IT professionals, Tony is the go-to person for Data Protection and Privacy
EDUCATION DATA MATTERS
Following the DfE’s Working Group, a successor community was set up to help the drive between schools, EdTech vendors and agencies.
KNOWING ME, KNOWING YOU
Tony is well known and well respected across the EdTech sector, having worked, collaborated, consulted or simply had a cuppa with so many members of the community.
GETTING THINGS DONE
Collaboration and Communication
As part of the drive to help EdTech vendors improve their compliance and to be able to demonstrate it, the My Data Protection World team have continued to openly co-operate with DPOs in schools, DPO service Providers, Compliance solutions, Agencies and the wider EdTech industry to clearly set out expectations from schools.
ACCOUNTABILITY
By translating the ICO’s Accountability Toolkit into a model more readily available to EdTech Companies, MDPW’s Framework aims to streamline the work for businesses.
COLLABORATION
Working with schools and DPOs, we have been able to identify the stumbling blocks so many educational institutes face, and align these with models provided by GDPR in Schools.
MESSAGES
Core to supporting EdTech Companies is helping with how they communication key information to schools and DPOs. Schools and Trusts should be completing Due Diligence when working with EdTech companies, so let’s make it easy for them.
UNDERSTANDING CHILDREN
Having an understanding of how children grow in their digital experiences in life, both in and out of school, allows the team to help EdTech companies develop products, ensure the right messages are with schools and support children in their own rights.
What people have said
Don’t take our word for it – here’s what others say:
Anyone who knows or has worked with Tony will appreciate his work ethic and the professionalism with which he approaches everything, not to mention his fantastic sense of humour!
Matt Robbins
Director of IT
Working with Tony proved to be extremely valuable experience in terms of my own professional development. I learned a great deal in that he shows a high degree of enthusiasm and professionalism in whatever task he is confronted with. He has a welcome ability to think outside the box whilst staying open minded to the opinions of others and totally focused on the challenges he faces.
Shereen Johnson
Blue Rose Relations
Tony is a ‘one of the kind’ an educational technologist. I can truly say that working with him has been a pleasure not only has he got an extensive knowledge on educational matters but is backed up with a high technical knowledge
Russell Dyas
Rencore GmbH
Our Partners
Our fledgling team are always eager to work with and support others, helping to provide clients with access to a wealth of expertise. Having worked across the sector for over 2 decades, we have been able to connect or work with some of the best in the business. Come and talk to us if you need peer support, fact checking or simply want to swap jokes.
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