CEREDIGION’S flagship 3-19 ‘super-school’ has been rapped after it emerged that the chair of governors stored “highly sensitive” personal data relating to a special needs pupil on her home computer and private Hotmail account.

It is understood that the data contained information about the medical condition and learning difficulties of the youngster, who attends Ysgol Bro Pedr in Lampeter.

The issue came to light after a complaint by the child’s parents was upheld by the Information Commissioner’s Office.

The parents are now considering legal action against Ceredigion County Council after accusing the local authority of “a complete disregard for the safe and appropriate storage and sharing of our child’s most sensitive medical and educational data”.

The parents said: “This is an issue affecting families all across Ceredigion as the use of private email addresses such as Hotmail and Gmail by school governors to conduct their governor duties is standard practice in every Ceredigion school.

“Ceredigion council has shown a complete disregard for the safe and appropriate storage and sharing of our child’s most sensitive medical and educational data.”

A Ceredigion council spokesperson said: “The council can reassure parents that they handle all sensitive and personal data in accordance to the data protection principles and that this incident was an exception to the normal processes.

“The council will continue to monitor and improve the way that governing bodies are allowed access to secure information.”

See this week’s South Ceredigion paper for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now