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A Scottish council recently faced criticism from the UK’s information watchdog for altering records related to a bullying incident that occurred weeks prior. The incident involved a teenager at a school in East Dunbartonshire, and the council came under fire for potentially whitewashing the bullying narrative in favor of the school. The council initially claimed that the incident was accurately logged at the time and could not be altered retroactively. However, it later admitted that this was not the case, leading to a ruling by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) that the backdating of records violated data protection laws. East Dunbartonshire Council has since taken steps to address the issues highlighted by the ICO.
The controversy revolves around the use of a nationwide education IT system called Seemis, which is utilized for recording pupil data and tracking bullying complaints in schools. Concerns have been raised about the accessibility and usage of Seemis by staff, with fears that incidents of bullying in schools are being under-recorded. A petition has been lodged with the Scottish Parliament by Accountability Scotland, a public sector governance campaign group, calling for measures to prevent teachers from altering Seemis records. The group emphasized the importance of accurate school records and highlighted the need for safeguards within the system to prevent the rewriting of history.
The East Dunbartonshire case originated when a parent, seeking to remain anonymous, lodged a formal complaint regarding bullying at his daughter’s school. The parent, who works as a data analyst, raised concerns about an incident involving a dangerous weapon on a school premises that went unnoticed. The data analyst suspected that the incident was not properly logged in Seemis, despite reassurances from the school. After a civil court challenge, it was revealed that changes had been made to three records, including backdating, raising questions about the integrity of the system and the accuracy of the data.
In response to the parent’s complaint, the ICO highlighted that changing the date on a note in the Seemis system was not in compliance with data protection legislation. The ICO stressed the importance of transparency in processing individuals’ personal data, and recommended that East Dunbartonshire Council modify Seemis functionality to prevent backdating of notes. The chief education officer at the council, Greg Bremner, acknowledged the issue raised by the ICO and stated that the council had already taken steps to address it. Campaigners and officials have expressed concerns about escalating violence and bullying in schools, emphasizing the need for proper record-keeping and confidence in the system to address these issues effectively
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