The Data Protection Act at Tyne Metropolitan College
The Data Protection Act at Tyne Metropolitan College and how it supports and protects you.
About Your Personal Information And How We Use It
Whether you're a student already, or are applying to join a course at Tyne Metropolitan College, there'll be certain information about you that we need. The Data Protection Act means that you're entitled to know how we intend to use it.
Our main use of your personal information is to support your personal development and progression while at the college and afterwards to provide information to persons or organisations that may provide future progression opportunities for yourself. Tyne Metropolitan College may use data you provide, and other data records generated by the college relating to your time at the college, to inform persons or organisations who have a legitimate interest in an official capacity of your progression, performance and attendance, unless you have asked us not to do so.
Typical persons or organisations that we may communicate information to include:
- Sponsoring employers.
- Potential employers or their agents.
- Training providers.
- Yourself.
- Other sponsoring organisations or bodies that provide financial support for your education and training.
- UCAS (University and Colleges Admissions Service).
- Other educational organisations to which you wish to progress to.
- Parents or guardians for learners aged under 19 and living in the parental or guardians home.
We don't sell or reveal your details to any commercial companies outside of Tyne Metropolitan College for their marketing purposes.
You can opt out of any or all of the above, but by doing so it may impact our ability to support your personal development. Please discuss, with your tutor or Information Centre Staff, the implications of any opt out you are considering. If you wish to exercise your right to opt out, simply contact the College’s Information Centre or let us know by any means convenient for you. A form allowing selective opting out is available from the College Information Centre. Alternatively you can write to us at
Information Centre,Tyne Metropolitan College,
Embleton Avenue,
Wallsend,
Tyne & Wear,
NE28 9NJ
Remember, however, that opting out could impede both our ability, and supporting organisations abilities, to support you in your personal development. For example students receiving EMA (Educational Maintenance Allowance) would cease to receive an allowance.
The Data Protection Act
The Data Protection Act puts obligations on users of personal information, and provides users with eight guiding principles for processing it. One such principle indicates that you are entitled to know how we intend to use any information you provide. You can then decide whether you want to give it to us.
To provide outstanding learner support we need accurate personal information. You can help by informing us whenever your circumstances change.
Tyne Metropolitan College has lodged a notification with the Information Commissioner describing the purposes for which it processes personal information. The details are publicly available from the Commissioner’s office:
Wycliffe House,Water Lane,
Wilmslow,
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Tel: 01625 545745.
Fax: 01625 524510.
Alternatively, see the Commissioner’s web site www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
Right of Access
Under the Data Protection Act you have the right of access to information we hold about you in our records. The Act allows us to charge a fee of £10 for this service.
The college’s Data Protection Policy, available on the college’s web sit or intranet explains how you can access your personal data. If anything is inaccurate or incorrect, please let us know and we will correct it.
Contact Details, including Email
We will keep a record of contact details you provide to us, including your Email address, to enable us to contact you on college related matters. We may use Email to contact you unless you ask us not to. We will not give your Email address to any unauthorised third parties. Please inform the college of updates to your contact details.
Responsibility for confidentiality
Our staff are personally responsible for maintaining learner and staff confidentiality.
We provide training and education to all our staff to remind them about their
obligations. Our policies and procedures are regularly reviewed.
Sensitive information
The Data Protection Act defines certain information as ‘sensitive’ (racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, trade union membership, physical or mental health, sexual life, criminal proceedings and offences). Enrolment requirements for certain courses and the selection process for new staff require us to ask you for some ‘sensitive’ details. We will ask for your explicit consent if sensitive data is sought, and we will only use this information for the purposes specified at the time of the request.
Commitment to Support People
We are committed to meeting the needs of all of our customers. If you are disabled or are unable to understand any College Information, please contact the College Information Centre who will provide necessary assistance.
