Freehold Community School in Oldham has been found in breach of the Data Protection Act after the theft of an unencrypted laptop from a teacher’s car, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said today. The laptop contained personal information relating to 90 pupils at the school.
The school reported the breach to the ICO in January after an unencrypted laptop was stolen from the boot of a teacher’s car when parked at their home overnight.
The ICO’s enquiries found that the school was unaware of the need to encrypt portable and mobile storage devices, although it did have a policy in place informing staff that storage devices should not be kept in cars when away from the school premises.
The school signed an undertaking to improve their security.