HC Deb 23 October 1989 vol 158 cc320-1W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will introduce regulations to allow young students access to their own education records modelled on regulations issued under the Access to Personal Files Act; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Alan Howarth

My right hon. Friend plans shortly to issue a consultation paper on access to records of students in further and higher education.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science why his regulations which allow young students access to their own education record prohibit parents access to that record if the student was under 18 years of age, where the record constitutes personal data; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Alan Howarth

The Education (School Records) Regulations 1989 govern the keeping, disclosure and transfer of manual records on their pupils kept by maintained schools and non-maintained special schools. The regulations require that, from 1 September 1990, such records should be disclosed on request to parents of pupils aged under 18, and to pupils aged 16 or over. Certain categories of material, including those whose disclosure might cause serious harm to the pupil or any other person, are exempted from the disclosure requirement.