Geraint wrote:
Parents in Scotland might wish to submit a response to the Scottish Government's consultation on its draft guidelines for local authorities regarding biometrics in schools:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications ... 08135019/0Responses can be submitted on-line. The deadline is 4th December.
REFUSAL OF CONSENT - BIOMETRIC IN SCOTTISH SCHOOLS
Please find below a letter template I came across on LTKA website Forum: I have amended with to suit my personal circumstances however please find below a template that can be used to register 'early' your refusal of consent of any biometric information being collected and/or stored.
DATE
Director of Education & Cultural Services & Head of Education
Dear Sirs,
BIOMETRIC TECHNOLOGIES IN SCHOOLS – DRAFT GUIDANCE
The Scottish Government, Edinburgh 2008
With reference, to the recent Scottish Executive consultation titled ‘Biometric Technologies in Schools’. It would appear that biometric systems have been established or are being considered in Scottish Schools.
Can you advise if any Educational Establishment’s that are under the provisions of xxx are introducing and/or considering introducing these systems, in particular within the XXXXX catchment area?
We are intensively opposed to the collection and storage of the biometric data of children in schools by means of finger printing and palm scanning, We seek assurance that the guidelines issued in this draught guidance are being and/or will be followed, and any refusal will in no way compromise the education or services to which you are contractually obliged to provide?
We take very seriously the matter of principle of exercising our right of Parental Responsibilities and Parental Rights as outlines in the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.
• To act as the child’s legal representative:
• To act on their behalf, shall have title to sue, or to defend, in any proceedings as respects those responsibilities
Should XXXXX be or become involved in this sinister practice, we are hereby furnishing you at this early stage with our Refusal of Consent Signed Authority in relation to any attempt to collect and /or store our child’s biometric information from December 2008 for the duration of XXXXXX enrolment with any West Lothian Council Educational Establishment (including any holiday periods or absences), and shall be adhered to and our intention is irrevocable.
We hereby request written confirmation of receipt of this letter and signed authority, and trust you have a clear understanding of our non-negotiable conviction regarding this issue.
Yours Faithfully
XXX XXX
Date Father Date (Witness of Signatures)*
XXX XXX
Date Mother Date (Witness of Signatures)*
REFUSAL OF CONSENT - BIOMETRIC AND FINGERPRINT DATA
CHILDS NAME - XXX - DOB XXX
We, XXXX and XXXX, the parents and legal guardians of xxxxxxx jointly, severally and explicitly refuse consent for the following;
The taking, retention or storage by any method whatsoever (either temporarily or permanently), of any biometric or fingerprint information/data relating to xxxxxxx by any employee, teacher, supply teacher, representative of any statutory authority or contractor, for any purpose and under any circumstances, whilst xxxxxxx is enrolled with and in the legal care and guardianship of any xxxxxxx Educational Establishment.
For the terms of this notice and avoidance of doubt, any person having access to any xxxxxxx -Educational Establishment, in any capacity but who is not a permanent employee, shall be deemed to be under the control of xxxxxxx Department and the same conditions of refusal and duty of care shall apply without variance. This includes inter alia; agency staff, supply teachers, domestic staff, contractors, maintenance, estates staff, administrators, consultants, project managers and any other ad-hoc visiting staff.
Refusal also applies without variance to any representatives of statutory authorities whilst xxxxxxx is in the care of any xxxxxxx Educational Establishment e.g. Health professionals; police officers, PCSOs or other police representatives; Education Authority staff; 'Department for Children, Schools and Families' staff and local authority employees.
Refusal of consent applies equally and without variance when xxxxxxx is under the legal care or guardianship of the any xxxxxxx Educational Establishment, But away from any xxxxxxx Educational Establishment premises: For example (but not exclusively), on days out or when being escorted individually.
Refusal of consent applies for the duration of xxxxxxx’s enrolment with any xxxxxxx Educational Establishment (including any holiday periods or absences) and shall not be revoked! No implied or contractual consent (e.g. requiring parents to 'opt-out' of biometric or fingerprint schemes undertaken by any xxxxxxx Educational Establishment, will apply or be granted or assumed at any time before, during or after his enrolment.
The provision of xxxxxxx’s education or other services to which you are contractually obliged, will in no way be compromised by this refusal. Nothing in this notice affects our statutory rights. We reserve such rights at law should these terms be contravened,
xxxxxxx xxxxxxx
Date Father Date (Witness of Signatures)*
Xxxxxxx xxxxxxx
Date Mother Date (Witness of Signatures)*
REFUSAL OF CONSENT - BIOMETRIC AND FINGERPRINT DATA
CHILDS FULL NAME - DOB xxxxxxx
Witness (1) Statement
This Refusal of Consent Signed Authority in relation to any attempt to/or collection and /or store Childs Full Name biometric information by xxx has been witnessed by me:
of
on the day of in the year of Two Thousand and
Witness (2) Statement
This Refusal of Consent Signed Authority in relation to any attempt to/or collection and /or store Childs Full Name biometric information by xxx has been witnessed by me:
of
on the day of in the year of Two Thousand and
