Standard Learning Records Service Privacy Notice Text
How We Use Your Data
This statement is intended to provide you with
information as to how The Learning Records Service will collect and
use your personal information and data, and how you can exercise
choice in respect of the use of your personal data.
The Learning Records Service is operated by the
Skills Funding Agency. The Learning Records Service collects data
relating to learners registering for relevant post-14
qualifications, for example GCSEs, AS and A2 Qualifications,
Diplomas and associated units, Apprenticeships, Entry to Employment
Certificates and other vocational units.
The Learning Records Service offers a facility
which stores learner participation and achievements. By providing
your personal information, relevant organisations will have access
your Personal Learning Record to enable the use of your personal
information in order to assess your achievements, awards and
credits and to offer advice and guidance.
The Learning Records Service offers the
following core services:
- a Learner Register which allocates a Unique Learner Number
(ULN) to each learner.
- a Personal Learning Records Service. The Personal Learning
Records Service will offer you the facility to access your
participation and achievement data from relevant data sources via
the LRS website.
Collection of data
The Learning Records Service collects data
from:
- information which is already being collected by other agencies
from schools and other learning providers.
- information you provide when you register with a learning
provider.
- qualification, unit and Rules of Combination data from
Ofqual.
- participation and achievement data from the National Pupil
Database and Skills Funding Agency.
- Learner achievement data supplied by Awarding Organisations
directly in to the Personal Learning Record.
Use of data
The Unique Learner Number enables education and
training sector organisations, and Awarding Organisations regulated
by Ofqual, to share information about participation and
achievements in a consistent and approved manner, promoting good
information management practice, and helping to improve accuracy
and efficiency.
This will benefit you through enhancing the
application processes to Awarding Organisations, learning
providers, learning advisors and other third parties.
Your Personal Learning Record may be shared
with organisations linked to your education and training. Any
organisations that access information you provide are registered
under the Data Protection Act 1998 and will use your personal
information in accordance with the requirements of the Act.
These organisations are required to sign relevant Data Sharing
Agreements and control documentation which requires them to only
access your information for specific purposes and to manage your
data responsibly [and only to access information where there is a
direct connection between you and their organisation]. They
are also required to inform you of how your data is being shared.
The list of organisations that may access the information you
provide now or in the future is contained in Annex A.
At no time will your personal information be
passed to any organisations for marketing or sales purposes.
Permissions for sharing
Because the ULN is required for the
administration of services within the education and training sector
(such as the issuing of certain qualifications), you cannot opt-out
of being issued with a ULN on the Learner Register.
You can opt-out of sharing your participation
and achievement data through The Learning Records Service. Details
of how you may opt-out of sharing your participation and
achievement data within The Learning Records Service can be found
at
http://www.learningrecordsservice.org.uk/about/faqs/learners-advisers-employers-faqs.htm or
by telephoning theLearning Records Service's Customer helpdesk on
0845 602 2589.
The Personal Learning Record also enables you
to share, as much or as little, of your participation and
achievement data held in the PLR with other third
parties.
You can also share information with other
organisations and individuals by creating a configured view of your
participation and achievement data. The configured view allows you
to create the view of your participation and achievement data and
furthermore to share information with any third party that you
wish.
One potential consequence of deciding not to
allow data sharing of your participation and achievement data
contained in the Learning Records Service will be that you may need
to provide copies of certificates or other information to verify
qualifications. You will also inhibit organisations that can
support your continued education working with you, to perform on
your behalf including the learner centric functions: Routes to
Achievement, Rules of Combination queries and Credit Transfer
functions.
Correcting inaccurate data
A major benefit of The Learning Records Service
is that you can check that information held about you is accurate
and request that any errors are corrected. If you believe that any
information on your Personal Learning Record is incorrect then you
should follow the data challenge procedure found on the LRS
website.
Sensitive personal data
The Learning Records Service makes every effort
not to collect any information which consists of sensitive personal
data (for example data which relates to ethnic origin, physical or
mental health, religious beliefs, trade union membership or any
criminal offences or proceedings).
If you find that any sensitive personal data
has inadvertently been included, you should contact the Agency
through the service desk. The Learning Records Service currently
employs a process of sensitive personal data identification and
removal.
Sensitive learners
The Learning Records Service recognises that
some learners have specific concerns about privacy which mean that
additional safeguards are required. The Learning Records Service
implements a Sensitive Learners Policy to ensure these safeguards
are implemented.
Security
The Learning Records Service recognises the
need to keep your information secure and has implemented a Security
Policy that provides the appropriate technical and organisational
measures aimed at preventing loss of, or unauthorised use of, your
information in accordance with Government standards.
The Learning Records Service is intended to
provide a life-long record of learning which will be available to
you at any time you choose to participate in education or training.
Therefore the Learning Records Service may continue to hold your
ULN, Personal Learning Record and Qualification Credit Framework
and associated data for 66 years and will be reviewed
periodically.
The Learning Records Service recognises that privacy and data
protection concerns can evolve over time and will keep this policy
under review. Any amendments will be posted here and will be
notified to learners when they access their Personal Learning
Record.