Transparency data

Privacy information: key stage 4 and 5 and adult education

Details of the personal data the Department for Education (DfE) processes for learners in key stage 4 (KS4) and key stage 5 (KS5), and adult learners.

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 3 October 2023
• Last updated: 17 October 2024 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Privacy information: key stage 4 and 5 and adult education

HTML

Details

This document details what personal data DfE processes about learners in the following age groups:

• key stage 4 (KS4) - when learners are aged 14 to 16 years old in years 10 and 11
• key stage 5 (KS5) - often called ‘college’ or ‘sixth form’, when learners are 16 to 18 years old
• adult learners - when learners are aged over 16 years old, this includes apprentices

This includes pupils and learners in schools and academies, as well as learners in hospital schools, alternative provision or who are home educated.

Read the DfE personal information charter for more on the standards you can expect when we collect, hold or use your personal information.

Read our privacy notices for:

• children, young people and care leavers
• Learners in early years foundation stage to key stage 3

Published 3 October 2023
Last updated 17 October 2024 + show all updates

1. 17 October 2024

   Added new section 'Using your data to administer the Department for Education’s Risk Protection Arrangement' and updated data collected in the ‘Using your data to fund your learning’ section.

2. 12 August 2024

   Added a section on 'Using your data when you use Find an apprenticeship' and details about the Analyse School Performance service.

3. 1 May 2024

   Added new section on using your data when you make a complaint about education providers, children’s social care or DfE. Updated legislation details in learning achievements or attainments section. Updated data collected in section on using date for policy development and delivery.

4. 10 January 2024

   Updated retention periods for Deeds and DfE’s databases in 'How long we keep your data'. Added details about the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Privacy information was updated in ‘Using your data to improve the well-being of children in England’ to include details about children's data. Updated the data collected in 'Contacting us to make an enquiry or complaint'.

5. 3 October 2023

   First published.