CPD DAY FOR TEACHERS 2026: CYBER SECURITY AND DATA PROTECTION PHASE 2 TEACHABLE NOTES: (PDF)
CYBER SECURITY AND DATA PROTECTION PHASE 2 TEACHABLE NOTES: (PDF).
What is Data?
- Data refers to facts, figures, or information in any form that can be collected, stored, processed, and shared.
- In schools, data often means information about students, staff, and school activities that is written down, saved on a computer, or stored in files.
In Simple Terms
- Data = Information.
- It is anything that tells us something about a person, place, or activity.
Two Main Categories of Data
Personal Data:
- Any information that can identify an individual, e.g., a student’s name or ID number.
Sensitive Data:
- Information that, if shared wrongly, could cause harm or embarrassment — e.g., health records, exam marks, or disciplinary notes.
Why Data Matters in Schools
- It helps teachers plan lessons, track progress, and support learners.
- It helps school leaders make informed decisions.
- It allows parents to monitor their children’s performance.
What is Data Protection?
- Data protection refers to the practices, laws, and policies put in place to ensure that personal information is collected, stored, processed, and shared responsibly and securely.
- In simple terms, data protection means keeping people’s private information safe, ensuring it is not lost, stolen, misused, or exposed without permission.
Examples in a school context:
- Keeping student report files locked in a cabinet or password-protected folder.
- Ensuring attendance registers and health records are not left open on desks.
- Avoid sharing student marks or details on public platforms.
Key Principle:
- “Data protection is about respecting privacy and maintaining trust.”
