Privacy & Cookie Policy

 

Privacy policy

This website is brought to you by The Durham UTC Limited operating as UTC South Durham (referred to as ‘the UTC’ or ‘we’ or ‘us’). We take the privacy of our website users very seriously. We ask that you read this Privacy Policy carefully as it contains important information about how we will use your personal data. By accessing and using this website you are deemed to agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy. Please only submit information to us through this website if you agree that we may collect it, use it and retain it in accordance with the Privacy Policy and GDPR Regulations.

Please note that this website uses cookies to improve your user experience. By using this website you agree to these cookies being used. We may monitor your use of this website through the use of cookies and similar tracking devices. For example, we may monitor how many times you visit, which pages you go to, traffic data, location data and the originating domain name of a user’s internet service provider. This information helps us to build a profile of our users. Some of this data will be aggregated or statistical, which means that we will not be able to identify you individually. To find out more refer to our Cookies Policy below.

We may change the Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy from time to time. You should check this area of the website occasionally to ensure you are aware of the most recent versions which will apply each time you access this website.

Who we are

For the purposes of the Data Protection Act 2018, The Durham UTC Limited operating as UTC South Durham (‘UTC’ or ‘we’ or ‘us’) is the ‘data controller’ i.e. the company who is responsible for, and controls the processing of your personal data.

Use of your personal information

We may obtain personal data about you (such as your name, address, gender, education qualifications, parents/carer’s name and address) whenever you complete and submit an application, sign up for news and events or contact us for any reason. 

The UTC may store this information manually or electronically. By supplying this information you are consenting to the UTC holding and using this information for the purposes for which it was provided. The information provided will be kept for as long as is necessary to fulfil that purpose and in line with GDPR regulations.

If you register an interest or sign up for news

We will add your details to our database so that we can provide you with the latest information on UTC South Durham by email or telephone.

We may also use your personal data for statistical and monitoring purposes.

We will not share your details with anyone, unless required to do so by law.

You may choose to unsubscribe from these communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link which will appear on the emails you receive.

The general terms and conditions below also apply. 

If you make an application to become a student or employee

We will use your details to process your application and to communicate with you about it, including by telephone, email and conventional post.

We may process sensitive classes of information where necessary to process your application.

We may share the information you provide with us with other organisations where that is necessary to process your application – for example, to liaise with local councils where an applicant to become a student has been looked after by that council, or to undertake checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service for those applying for employment.

We may also use your personal data for statistical and monitoring purposes.

The General Terms and Conditions below also apply.

If you become a student, patron or employee at UTC South Durham

UTC South Durham processes personal information to enable us to provide education, training, welfare and educational support services, to administer school property; maintain our own accounts and records, undertake fundraising; support and manage our employees. We also use CCTV for security and the prevention and detection of crime.

We process information relevant to the above reasons/purposes. This may include:

  • Personal details
  • Family details
  • Lifestyle and social circumstances
  • Education and employment details
  • Financial details
  • Goods and services
  • Disciplinary and attendance records
  • Vetting checks
  • Visual images, personal appearance and behaviour

We also process sensitive classes of information that may include:

  • Physical or mental health details
  • Racial or ethnic origin
  • Religious or other beliefs
  • Trade union membership
  • Sexual life
  • Information about offences and alleged offences

We process personal information about:

  • Employees
  • Students and pupils
  • Professional experts and advisers
  • Members of school boards
  • Sponsors and supporters
  • Partner businesses and organisations
  • Suppliers and service providers
  • Complainants, enquirers
  • Individuals captured by CCTV images

We sometimes need to share the personal information we process with the individual themselves and also with other organisations. Where this is necessary we are required to comply with all aspects of the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA). What follows is a description of the types of organisations we may need to share some of the personal information we process with for one or more reasons. Where necessary or required we share information with:

  • Family, associates and representatives of the person whose personal data we are processing
  • Educators and examining bodies
  • Careers service
  • School boards
  • Local and central government

The General Terms and Conditions below also apply.

Privacy policy: General terms and conditions

Keeping your data secure and in line with GDPR Regulations

We are committed to ensuring that your information is secure. In order to prevent unauthorised access or disclosure we will use technical, physical and organisational measures to safeguard your personal data, we store your personal data on secure servers.

Whilst we will use all reasonable efforts to safeguard your personal data, you acknowledge that the use of the internet is not entirely secure and for this reason we cannot guarantee the security or integrity of any personal data which are transferred from you or to you via the internet. 

Information about other individuals

If you give us information on behalf of someone else, you confirm that the other person has appointed you to act on his/her behalf and has agreed that you can: 

  • Give consent on his/her behalf to the processing of his or her personal data
  • Receive on his/her behalf any data protection notices
  • Give consent to the transfer of his/her personal data abroad
  • Give consent to the processing of his or her education and/or health information 

Transfer of information outside of the European Economic Area (EEA)

Personal data within the EEA is protected under data protection legislation. Outside of the EEA personal data may not be afforded the same level of protection. If we ever need to transfer your personal information outside the EEA, for example if we subcontract IT systems, we will do so only in a way which is fully compliant with data protection legislation. 

Access to information and your rights

Under the DPA an individual has the right to a copy of the current personal information held on them by the UTC and a right to raise an objection to data processing that causes unwarranted and substantial damage and distress. It should be noted that although you can object in some circumstances, the UTC may be required to hold certain information in order to deliver the course in question and to comply with specific sections of the DPA.

To discuss any objections or concerns, or to obtain a copy of the current personal information held about you, please contact the UTC’s Data Protection Officer at the following address:

The Data Protection Officer for UTC South Durham
UTC South Durham
Long Tens Way
Aycliffe Business Park
County Durham
DL5 6AP

Or send an email to: office@utcsouthdurham.org.uk

Your rights

You have the right to request access to personal data which we may process about you. If you wish to exercise this right you should:

1)    Put your request in writing.

2)    Include proof of your identity and address (e.g. a copy of your driving licence or passport, and a recent utility or credit card bill).

3)    Specify the personal data you want access to, including any account or reference numbers where applicable.

You have the right to require us to correct any inaccuracies in your data free of charge. If you wish to exercise this right you should:

1)    Put your request in writing.

2)    Provide us with enough information to identify you (e.g. account number, username, registration details).

3)    Specify the information that is incorrect and what it should be replaced with.

You also have the right to ask us to stop processing your personal data for direct marketing purposes. If you wish to exercise this right you should:

1)    Put your request in writing (an email sent to (address) with a header that says ‘Unsubscribe’ is acceptable).

2)    Provide us with enough information to identify you (e.g. account number, username, registration details). 

 

Cookies policy

What are cookies?

When you visit some pages on the UTC’s website, your computer may be issued with a small file - a ‘cookie’. A cookie is a file which asks permission to be placed on your computer's hard drive. Once you agree, the file is added and the cookie helps analyse web traffic or lets you know when you visit a particular site. Cookies allow web applications to respond to you as an individual. The web application can tailor its operations to your needs, likes and dislikes by gathering and remembering information about your preferences.

Overall, cookies help us provide you with a better website, by enabling us to monitor which pages you find useful and which you do not.

There are two types of cookie Session Cookies and Persistent Cookies. Session Cookies expire at the end of a browser session, when a user exits the browser. They allow website operators to link the actions of the user during a single browser session to allow them to use the website most effectively. As these cookies are not usually stored beyond the browser session they are usually considered less privacy intrusive. Persistent Cookies are stored on the user's equipment between browsing sessions. They enable the website to recognise the user on his return, to remember preferences and to tailor services to them. They allow the user's browsing activity to be tracked across different websites and to build up a detailed profile of his browsing behaviour for target advertising.

You can choose to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. This may prevent you from taking full advantage of the website.

By using our website you are agreeing that we can place cookies on your hard drive. If you do not wish us to store any cookies during your visit please see the 'rejecting and disabling cookies via your browser settings' section of this page and the links to specific cookies that can be rejected. Please note however that this may have a significant impact on your experience.

Rejecting and disabling cookies via your browser settings

You can choose not to accept cookies and still use our website, but some essential functionality may be lost. For example, user preferences will not be retained if cookies are disabled, and some parts of the site may not function as intended.

The documentation for your web browser will provide you with instructions on how to disable cookies. 

ICC categories

For those familiar with the ICC categories of cookies, we use:

Category 1, ‘Strictly Necessary Cookies’ to maintain service levels across servers (‘load balancing’), to maintain security of access where the user has logged in, and where a programming language issues cookies as a fundamental requirement of delivery.

Category 2, ‘Performance Cookies’ for anonymous analysis of our web pages, to help us understand how people use them and how we can improve them. This analysis is always anonymous.

Category 3 ‘Functionality Cookies’ to deliver specific requested functionality, such as display options to support accessibility.

We do not use Category 4, 'Targeting Cookies' unless you are advised on the page.

Third-party cookies

We work with third-party suppliers who may also set cookies on our website, for example (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Adobe Flashplayer which we use to display video content). These third-party suppliers are responsible for the cookies they set on our site. If you want further information please go to the website for the relevant third party.

Our contact details

We welcome your feedback and questions. If you wish to contact us, please send an email to office@utcsouthdurham.org

or you can write to us at;

UTC South Durham
Long Tens Way
Aycliffe Business Park
County Durham
DL5 6AP

or call us on 01325 430 250.