School records for an individual pupil

Accessing pupil records - information for parents

Your child's educational record should include exchanges of letters you may have had with the school and other information the school has on your child's education which 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. There may be some circumstances where a school will not let you see or give you a copy of some of the information on it, 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 should ask them to explain to you why they have taken this decision.

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. The school should respond within 15 school days. Sometimes a school may not show or give you a copy of some of the information on 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 should ask them to explain to you 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 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.

More information about accessing pupil records can be found on the Information Commissioner's website.

School archives

Our Archive and Local History Centre holds archived school and college records - more information