Pupil records

All state schools must keep educational records on each of their pupils.

You may contact the school directly to see your child's records. This should include copies of all reports to parents and exchanges of letters you may have had with the school and any other information the school has on your child's education that comes from the local authority.

There may be other records kept, such as details of behaviour and family background, but this is not compulsory. The educational record does not include the notes that a teacher makes for his or her own use only.

You have a right as a parent to see or to have a copy of your child's educational record. You should write to the school to ask for this and they should respond within 15 school days. If you have asked for a copy, the school may make a small charge for the cost of copying.

Can I see material the school holds about the behaviour, exclusions etc. of my child?

If the material forms part of your child's educational record, then you should be able to see it, or have a copy of it, if you make a written request.

In some circumstances the school may reserve the right not to show or give you a copy of some of the information in the record if they think that to do so might harm the child or another person in some way.

If the school decides to do this, you may ask them to explain why they have taken this decision.

Can I still see my child's records if I do not live with him or her?

Yes, anyone who is defined as a parent/carer in education law can see these records, unless there is a court order against them, limiting that right.

Such parents include all natural (i.e. biological) parents, whether or not they were married at the time of the child's birth. It also includes adults who, while they are not natural parents of the child, have parental responsibility for or have care of them in the sense that they live with and look after that child.

What happens if my child changes school?

School records should be transferred when the child changes school on request from the child’s new school. Contact your child's new school for further information.