DLA awarded for my son - Finally!

If you would like to see what the head worte the first time, you can request to see your son's school record, the head may not be to keen to start with, but you do have a legal wright to see it under the DPA. below is the legal bit which is a bit long winded. First ask verbally if it is refused, wright a letter making the request again asking for her/ his deccsion to be confirmed in writting. If it is still refused contact your local authority education department ( phoneing the director of Educations PA is a good move) advising the that you will be contacting the The Information Commissioner’s Office it is the UK’s independent authority set up to uphold information rights in the public interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals.

then once you have got access to the records, make a complaint about the head to the Chair of Governors, as a chair myself, my head would regret not being more helpful to a parent.

Your main rights to see personal data about yourself, held on computer and on paper, come from the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA). The DPA provides a right of access to personal information about yourself held by public authorities and private bodies, regardless of the form in which it is held

The 1998 DPA provides access to some records previously available under earlier legislation, which has now been repealed. This includes the right to see computerised records under the 1984 DPA, and the right to see paper-based medical, social work, housing and school records. These rights still apply, though under the new Act. [The 1998 DPA repealed the Access to Personal Files Act 1987 - together with its subsidiary Regulations - and the Access to Health Records Act 1990.]
Additional rights to see other paper and other non-computerised records are being phased in. A limited right came into force in March 2000. The main right of access will came into force in October 2001.