Unit 3 of 12

When you can collect personal information

Only collect personal information for a lawful purpose connected to what the school actually does.

03IPP 1 — Purpose of collection

Meet Admissions

The Admissions office collects information from families during enrolment and throughout the year. Under IPP 1, the school may only collect personal information for a lawful purpose that is connected to a function or activity of the school, and only if collection is actually necessary for that purpose.

That sounds obvious, but the temptation is always to gather "a bit extra, just in case". The questions below test where the line sits.

Knowledge check

Decide whether it is acceptable for Admissions to collect the information for the purpose described. Remember: lawful, connected to the school's functions, and necessary.

Admissions wants to ask families about their net worth and investments, thinking it might help the development office target donation requests later.

Knowledge check

Decide whether each collection is acceptable.

A staff member running a private tutoring business asks Admissions for the contact details of families whose daughters are struggling.

Admissions collects each family's preferred contact details so the school can reach them about their daughter's education and welfare.