GDPR compliance and DPA management are often cited as significant challenges within the UK education sector, collectively, and in their own right – particularly in today’s digital age.

According to data published by our partner, BESA, there are more than 32,000 schools across the UK with more than 10 million pupils, equating to 10 million opportunities to secure and protect sensitive information. For schools, this represents not only a growing responsibility, but also a pressing need for solutions that simplify compliance and enhance control over data privacy. 

Skolon addresses this need by enabling schools to maintain oversight of data-sharing agreements, ensuring each provider adheres to privacy standards and remains aligned with GDPR requirements. This is especially important as schools face an increasing challenge to manage data privacy agreements, ensure GDPR compliance, and maintain control over the data they share with third-party suppliers.

Skolon offers a comprehensive solution that stands out from competitors by providing practical tools to simplify DPA management, promote transparency, and effectively control data sharing—all while ensuring GDPR compliance. 

The challenge of DPA management in schools

With several different learning styles and needs to juggle at any given time in a classroom, it’s a given that teachers are constantly seeking innovative digital tools to maximise their time and enhance their teaching. However, many easily accessible tools, such as YouTube, Kahoot, or Disney+, require a DPA between the school and the supplier which outlines the information collected and stored per user. However, this often leads to teachers adopting tools without proper DPAs in place.

Research published in 2023 highlighted that 78% of all education staff are stressed, with factors that are likely to contribute to this include: 

• Pressure to deliver engaging lessons
• Personalising learning plans for pupils with SEN and EHC plans
• Managing administrative tasks 

Therefore, this could leave them with limited time to research every tool they plan to use in the classroom and what implications this could have with data breaches.
For example, a teacher might encourage students to create accounts on a platform, unknowingly leading to the sharing of personal data with a third-party supplier without a DPA.

Skolon’s solution – a single point of compliance

To help tackle these challenges, Skolon has developed a streamlined platform that not only simplifies DPA management but also supports schools with their GDPR compliance. 

Skolon’s data hub integrates directly with the school’s MIS system, providing accurate and up-to-date information about users, classrooms, and schools. This integration ensures that the right licenses are assigned to the right people, minimising data sharing and reducing the risk of breaches.

Here’s a few ways in which Skolon can limit your data breaches and support your Trust:

DPA management

Skolon enables schools to centralise their DPAs, too, providing a clear overview of the data being shared with each supplier. This simplifies monitoring and ensures all data sharing is compliant.

Stop sharing data

Skolon gives you full control and visibility on what data you’re sharing to suppliers. If you identify a risk, or a breach is announced by a tool, or should a tool change their hosting, you are able to instantly stop sharing data with a single click. This granular level of control ensures that you have control over data sharing and  minimises potential risks.

Reporting

In addition to monitoring what data is shared, Skolon can also generate instant reports on data sharing, providing detailed information about which data has been shared with each tool, by user, school, or classroom. This feature is invaluable for addressing safeguarding concerns and responding to data access requests from parents or guardians.

Pseudonymisation

Providing an additional layer of protection, Skolon goes beyond basic data control by offering a powerful pseudonymisation tool. This feature replaces genuine student data with encrypted pseudonyms, eliminating the transfer of identifiable information to third-party suppliers. By using pseudonymisation, schools can drastically reduce the risk of data breaches and protect student privacy. Schools can choose to pseudonymise data for all tools or apply it selectively to specific tools based on their risk profiles.

Stress-free, approved tools

With Skolon, it’s easier than ever to find, buy and start using new digital resources and tools. Our library is full of tools that you can easily search for and filter by subject, school year or category. Not only is our library rich with interactive tools, it also removes the guesswork for educators as Trusts are able to keep the marketplace broad and permit teachers to find digital tools, while showing the status of the DPA, or equally they can whitelist preferred suppliers, so only pre-approved suppliers are visible.This enables educators to confidently select and use resources without worrying about data compliance, further enhancing control and security.

Empowering schools to take control of data

Skolon empowers schools to take control of their data, streamline DPA management, and ensure GDPR compliance without sacrificing access to valuable educational tools. Its comprehensive features, including centralised DPA management, pre-approved tools, direct MIS integration, data minimisation controls, instant reports, and pseudonymisation, collectively make Skolon the leading solution for data protection in education. By choosing Skolon, schools can foster a secure digital learning environment that prioritises student privacy and responsible data management.