Catering:

We are proud of the varied and nutritional catering offer we are able to provide students at Waseley. You can find out more about what this offer includes here.

Biometrics:

As you will be aware, we use a voluntary biometric recognition system in school. This is used for our cashless catering system. We find this provides the school with a number of very significant benefits including:

• Reduction in administration time and cost dealing with lost or forgotten cards/passwords/PINs
• Reduction in the need for cash handling
• Reduction in queuing time

In order to comply with the provisions of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (which came into effect in September 2013), we need written permission from a parent in order for students to use the biometric system. You can complete this biometric consent on the admissions form you will be sent following national offer day.

 

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR PARENTS

Background to the use of biometrics in school

For the sake of clarity, biometric information is information about someone’s physical or behavioural characteristics that can be used to identify them. There are many possible biometrics, including for example, a digital photograph, fingerprint, or hand shapes. In future we may use other biometric services where appropriate.

Regarding fingerprints, our chosen solution allows us to securely match a fingerprint to a number that is wholly unique to that specific fingerprint. Our solution means that absolutely ZERO biometric data is actually stored by Waseley Hills. When a student scans their fingerprint it is simply converted into the unique number at the scanner, which is then referenced in our database to bring up their profile. This solution minimises data held on students and greatly reduces the risk of data loss.

The data that is held cannot be used by any other agency for any other purpose.

The school will not use the biometric information for any purpose other than that stated above. The school will store the biometric information collected securely in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998. The school will not share this information with anyone else and will not unlawfully disclose it to any other person.

 

Current Legislation – The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012

This legislation requires schools to:

• Inform parents about the use of the biometric systems in the school and explain what applications use biometrics.
• Receive written permission from one parent if the school is to continue processing biometrics for their child.
• Allow children to choose an alternative way of being identified if they wish.
• Children under 18 who do not have permission will not be able to use existing or new biometrics when using services in the school.

Please note that all Biometric information data will be permanently deleted when your child leaves the school or if you wish to opt out of the system.