FOI REQUEST (ref: ENQ4502) submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within 12 days)

1. What is the authority's policy on the use of biometrics in educational institutions within your area? "There is no authority wide policy - schools make their own decisions."
   
2. How many of the following educational institutions within your area, currently use a biometric identifying system (eg fingerprint scanner) for any purpose: "None"
   
3. Please specify for each institution which uses biometric technology whether explicit consent was obtained from parents/guardians before taking the pupils' biometric data? "Schools are obliged to do this - we have informed them of this."
   
4. If this data is ever likely to be shared with any other organisation, including the police? "No"

FOI REQUEST: submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within 14 days)

1. What is the authority's policy on the use of biometrics in educational institutions within your area? "There is no general policy in the use of biometrics in educational institutions in the Angus area. However a copy of the Report No 997/02 which was approved by the Education Committee at its meeting in August 2002 is attached. This report established the policy for schools wishing to use Identikit systems as part of library management systems, the only area where such technology is used within schools in the Angus area."
   
2. How many of the following educational institutions within your area, currently use a biometric identifying system (eg fingerprint scanner) for any purpose: " Although the attached Committee Report refers to all eight secondary schools and one primary school either using or proposing to use the system, some of the secondaries do not in fact use it for operational reasons. The current situation is that 4 secondary schools and 2 primary schools within the Angus area use the Identikit system in their libraries. For the other educational institutions you refer to, the answer is therefore zero."
   
3. Please supply the names of those institutions using biometric technologies. "The schools currently using the Identikit system referred to above within the Angus area are: Arbroath High School , Brechin High School , Montrose Academy, Webster's High School , Andover Primary School, Rosemount Primary School. "
   
4. Please specify for each institution which uses biometric technology, what purpose the system is used for? (eg electronic registration system.) "As noted previously, the system is used as part of the library management system in those schools noted above."
   
5. Please specify for each institution which uses biometric technology whether explicit consent was obtained from parents/guardians before taking the pupils' biometric data? "Arbroath High School - at present the school is awaiting re-installation of the software so it has not been used this year. The school includes information about it in the Information and Communications Technology agreement form which parents/guardians are asked to sign.
   Brechin High School -the new intake receives information about it in the library induction leaflet given to all primary pupils about to start in the secondary school and parents/guardians on Induction Day with an invitation to contact the school if they wish further information. The school handbook also refers to it and again invites parents/guardians to contact the school for more information and to advise in writing if they have any objections. Information will also be on the school website in due course.
   Montrose Academy - the new intake receives information with their Induction Pack and it is demonstrated to parents/guardians who attend the Induction evening with an invitation to contact the school if they wish further information about the system.
   Webster's High School - has included details about it in the Information and Communications Technology agreement form which parents / guardians have been asked to sign.
   Rosemount Primary School - the School sends out a form to new P1 parents/guardians every year which they are required to sign to either give or refuse their permission.
   Andover Primary School - the School has flagged up use of the system in their newsletter to parents/guardians and are including it in their Information and Communications Technology agreement for parents/guardians of new pupils to sign. "
   
6. Please supply details of any proposed implementation of biometric systems in educational establishments, within your area, with regards to the government's Building Schools for the Future programme or any educational establishment renovation programme. " A third primary school has bought the system referred to above and is considering introducing it later this year but it is not part of the PPP or a refurbishment programme. "
   
7. If this data is ever likely to be shared with any other organisation, including the police? "There are absolutely no plans to share this data with any other body."

"Barnsley Local Education Authority has not authorised and has no intention of authorising the taking of pupils' fingerprints."

Mike Vigurs, Head Of Children And Young Adults Service

FOI REQUEST (ref: RFI433) submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within 14 days)

1. What is the authority's policy on the use of biometrics in educational institutions within your area? "The Council does not have a policy on the use of biometric technology in schools."
   
2. How many of the following educational institutions within your area, currently use a biometric identifying system (eg fingerprint scanner) for any purpose: "Seven Primary Schools and two Secondary Schools."
   
3. Please supply the names of those institutions using biometric technologies.
   Primary
   Bathampton Primary
   Castle Primary
   Chandag Junior
   Chew Stoke Primary
   Farrington Gurney Primary
   St Nicholas Primary
   Westfield Primary
   Secondary
   Broadlands Secondary School
   Chew Valley Secondary School
   
4. Please specify for each institution which uses biometric technology, what purpose the system is used for? (eg electronic registration system.) "Each of the Primary Schools listed above have introduced the `Junior Librarian' system. This system uses a finger print to issue and return library books.
   The Secondary Schools listed above have both introduced the `Eclipse' system, which also uses a finger print to issue and return library books."
   
5. Please specify for each institution which uses biometric technology whether explicit consent was obtained from parents/guardians before taking the pupils' biometric data? "Parental permission was sought in all of the above cases apart from at Farrington Gurney School."
   
6. Please supply details of any proposed implementation of biometric systems in educational establishments, within your area, with regards to the government's Building Schools for the Future programme or any educational establishment renovation programme. "We are aware that Writhlington Secondary School is investigating the use of the Eclipse system for their library. "
   
7. If this data is ever likely to be shared with any other organisation, including the police? "No other organisations are currently permitted access to the information captured by these systems, and it is unlikely that such access will be permitted in the future."

FOI REQUEST (ref: 7/089) submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within 8 days)

"Educational institutions are not obliged to inform the local authority if they are using biometric technology, but the Directorate is not aware that any schools or colleges within Bexley are using it. There are no current plans for using biometric technology in new schools."

"I am attaching for your information a copy of the guidance issued to schools. You would have to address any further questions to individual schools and colleges."

Jenny Watson, Children's and Young People's Services, 20 April 2007

FOI REQUEST (ref: FOI1488) submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within 7 days)

1. What is the authority's policy on the use of biometrics in educational institutions within your area? "No formal policy at present, as no schools in our Authority use or have stated their intention to use biometrics."
   
2. How many of the following educational institutions within your area, currently use a biometric identifying system (eg fingerprint scanner) for any purpose: "No school or college has notified us of any intention to use biometrics."
   
3. Please supply the names of those institutions using biometric technologies. "None"
   
4. Please specify for each institution which uses biometric technology, what purpose the system is used for? (eg electronic registration system.) "Not applicable"
   
5. Please specify for each institution which uses biometric technology whether explicit consent was obtained from parents/guardians before taking the pupils' biometric data? "Not applicable"
   
6. Please supply details of any proposed implementation of biometric systems in educational establishments, within your area, with regards to the government's Building Schools for the Future programme or any educational establishment renovation programme. "Nothing proposed"
   
7. If this data is ever likely to be shared with any other organisation, including the police? "Not applicable"

FOI REQUEST: submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within 5 days)

1. What is the authority's policy on the use of biometrics in educational institutions within your area? "The Local Authority currently has no set policy on the use of biometric Information in educational establishments."
   
2. How many of the following educational institutions within your area, currently use a biometric identifying system (eg fingerprint scanner) for any purpose:
   a) nursery "information not held"
   b) primary school "information not held"
   c) middle school "LA has no middle schools"
   d) secondary school "information not held"
   e) FE college teaching 16-19 year olds. "information not held"
   
3. Please supply details of any proposed implementation of biometric systems in educational establishments, within your area, with regards to the government's Building Schools for the Future programme or any educational establishment renovation programme. "Our current BSF Plans do not include the use of Biometric information systems. There are no other current Local Authority plans to implement biometric information systems at this time."
   
4. If this data is ever likely to be shared with any other organisation, including the police? "not applicable."

   "In order that you may examine further the use of biometric information systems in educational institutions within the Local Authority, please find a link to Blackpool Council Website in order that you can contact the relevant institutions directly."
   

   www.blackpool.gov.uk/services/s-z/schools/home.htm

FOI REQUEST: submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within 14 days)

"This information is not held by the local authority and to the best of our knowledge none of our local authority schools have implemented biometric technology or plan to. Schools however can implement any ICT solution they chose without consultation with the local authority. You may wish to ask the schools individually as they are responsible for their own FOI requests."

"You can find the contact details of the local authority schools in Bolton using the school directory on our website at: http://www.bolton.gov.uk/schooldirectory"

Steph Maguire, Information Officer, Children's Services, 26 April 2007

"A total of 9 schools have purchased the Junior Librarian system and the optional identikit which scans the children's thumb."
Christophe Hamard, Research. and Development Officer for the Education Client Team

FOI REQUEST (ref: 260726) submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within 4 days)

"The Local Authority is unaware of ANY of our schools utilising this form of Technology, in so much that we have not been approached from any schools regarding this issue, and no complaints or questions have been aimed at the L.A. either."

Christian Mauz, Policy & Systems Officer, Systems and Information Unit, 16 April 2007

FOI REQUEST: submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within 12 days)

1. What is the authority's policy on the use of biometrics in educational institutions within your area? "We do not have any policy on the use of biometrics in schools."
   
2. How many of the following educational institutions within your area, currently use a biometric identifying system (eg fingerprint scanner) for any purpose: "We do not hold information centrally as to what, if any, biometric systems are used in schools."
   
3. Please supply details of any proposed implementation of biometric systems in educational establishments, within your area, with regards to the government's Building Schools for the Future programme or any educational establishment renovation programme. "There is no Building Schools for the Future Programme in Wales."
   

FOI REQUEST (ref: foi/129/07) submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within 5 days)

"At least four primary schools use a library system which identifies pupils via their thumbprint... Some schools have been using this for three years."

P.J. O'Neill, Freedom of Information Team, 17 April 2007

FOI REQUEST: submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within 5 days)

"Biometric technology is not as yet being used in Bristol schools. No decsion has yet been taken regarding future implementation. The use of Smart Cards to gain access to school premises has been introduced at Fairfield High school and will also be used at the new Speedwell and Redland Green schools."

Rodger Fowler, Senior Strategic Planning and Performance Officer, 17 April 2007

FOI REQUEST (ref: 480) submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within 4 days)

"Biometric testing is not used in Bromley schools or maintained nurseries. The authority has no policy on the use of biometrics in schools or maintained nurseries."

"FE colleges in the London Borough of Bromley are responsible for their own policies and procedures and you would need to contact them direct should you wish to request similar information from them. I attach the link from our website which gives their details."

www.bromley.gov.uk/education/further/further_higher_educ_colleges.htm

Val Haskey, FOI Co-ordinator for Children and Young People, 16 April 2007

FOI REQUEST: submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within hours)

"According to our LEA, we have no record of any Buckinghamshire school using biometric technology. Although this information is not held by Bucks County Council, in practice most schools will consult me for data protection advice on such matters. I was asked some time ago for advice by a Primary school thinking about using the technology. The school subsequently decided not to use the biometric part of the software but I attach the advice I gave at the time including a note received some years ago from the Information Commissioner's office. It is probably worth noting that the Commissioner's letter was written in 2001 and technology has undoubtedly moved on since then."

Martin Gibson, Customer Relations Team/Data Protection Officer, 13 April 2007

FOI REQUEST: submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within 5 days)

1. What is the authority's policy on the use of biometrics in educational institutions within your area? "The Authority has no policy on the use of biometrics in education institutions, it is a school policy decision."
   
2. How many of the following educational institutions within your area, currently use a biometric identifying system (eg fingerprint scanner) for any purpose:
   a) nursery "none"
   b) primary school "none"
   c) middle school "none"
   d) secondary school "two (2)"
   e) FE college teaching 16-19 year olds. "n/a"
   
3. Please supply the names of those institutions using biometric technologies. "Tottington High School and Parrenthorn High School"
   
4. Please specify for each institution which uses biometric technology, what purpose the system is used for? (eg electronic registration system.) "Tottington High School - fingerprints are used in the library to replace the need of library cards;
   Parrenthorn High School - cashless payment for school meals."
   
5. Please specify for each institution which uses biometric technology whether explicit consent was obtained from parents/guardians before taking the pupils' biometric data? "Tottington High School - No, although a letter was sent out explaining the system.
   Parrenthorn High School - Yes, consulted with parents/guardians and requested explicit consent."
   
6. Please supply details of any proposed implementation of biometric systems in educational establishments, within your area, with regards to the government's Building Schools for the Future programme or any educational establishment renovation programme. "Proposal is to introduce biometric cashless systems into 12 secondary schools by end of 2008."
   
7. If this data is ever likely to be shared with any other organisation, including the police? "NO, the schools are very clear that they would not share this data with anyone."

FOI REQUEST (ref: CYP FOI 1234) submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within 8 days)

1. What is the authority's policy on the use of biometrics in educational institutions within your area? "Children and Young People’s Services has not issued any written policy to schools."
   
2. How many of the following educational institutions within your area, currently use a biometric identifying system (eg fingerprint scanner) for any purpose: "Calderdale Council does not hold any information about those educational institutions which use a biometric identifying system."
   
3. Please supply the names of those institutions using biometric technologies. "As Calderdale Council does not hold any information about those educational institutions using a biometric identifying system, it has no record of the institutions using biometric technologies."
   
4. Please specify for each institution which uses biometric technology, what purpose the system is used for? (eg electronic registration system.) "As Calderdale Council does not hold any information about those educational institutions using a biometric identifying system, it has no record of any use of biometric technology."
   
5. Please specify for each institution which uses biometric technology whether explicit consent was obtained from parents/guardians before taking the pupils' biometric data? " Calderdale Council does not hold any information about those educational institutions using a biometric identifying system, therefore it has no record of whether institutions have obtained explicit consent."
   
6. Please supply details of any proposed implementation of biometric systems in educational establishments, within your area, with regards to the government's Building Schools for the Future programme or any educational establishment renovation programme. "There are no proposed implementations of biometric systems in educational establishments as part of the Building Schools for the Future programme or any educational establishment renovation programme. "
   
7. If this data is ever likely to be shared with any other organisation, including the police? "The Authority does not have any written information as to whether biometric technologies might or might not be shared."
   

   "Information relating to questions 2 to 7 is not held by the Local Authority, but may be held by the school. Under the Freedom of Information Act schools are classed as public services and are therefore responsible for the provision of information they hold. On receipt of a written request a school has 20 working days in which to respond to your request for information. There are a limited number of exemptions that may prevent schools from releasing information but they will try to answer your request in as much detail as possible. "

FOI REQUEST (ref: CSF/RM/FOI/RFI/01939) submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within 11 days)

1. What is the authority's policy on the use of biometrics in educational institutions within your area? " At present, the Council does not have a policy on the use of biometrics in our educational institutions."
   
2. How many of the following educational institutions within your area, currently use a biometric identifying system (eg fingerprint scanner) for any purpose: " Unfortunately, this information is not held centrally. As each school is registered as a Public Authority in its own right, I suggest that you contact individual schools directly, as they may be able to provide the information you have requested. A list of Camden schools is available on the Camden website www.camden.gov.uk."
   
3. Please supply details of any proposed implementation of biometric systems in educational establishments, within your area, with regards to the government's Building Schools for the Future programme or any educational establishment renovation programme. "The use of biometric systems has not been considered at this initial stage of the Building Schools for the Future programme. It is anticipated that the process to consider these systems will be addressed during 2009, once the detailed design process begins to take shape, therefore this information is not held. "
   
4. If this data is ever likely to be shared with any other organisation, including the police? " As outlined above, such systems have not been considered or agreed. "

FOI REQUEST (ref: FOIA/DC/940) submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within 4 days)

1. What is the authority's policy on the use of biometrics in educational institutions within your area? "The Authority has not issued any guidance nor implemented a policy on the use of such technology."
   
2. How many of the following educational institutions within your area, currently use a biometric identifying system (eg fingerprint scanner) for any purpose: "No school within this Local Education Authority uses biometric technology for purposes such as registration. A college, namely Coleg Sir Gƒr (Carmarthenshire College) is also based in this County, however, it is not part of the LEA and should you wish to contact this institution, the details are as follows:"
   

   Coleg Sir Gƒr, Sandy Road, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire SA15 4DN / email: admissions@colegsirgar.ac.uk
   

3. Please supply details of any proposed implementation of biometric systems in educational establishments, within your area, with regards to the government's Building Schools for the Future programme or any educational establishment renovation programme. "The Building Schools for the Future programme does not apply in Wales, as education is a devolved function dealt with by the Welsh Assembly Government."
   

FOI REQUEST (ref: 36336) submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within hours)

"I am able to give you the response to your query straight away and it is that we do not have any schools at this point in time using biometric technology."

Terry Harrop, Business Manager, Children's Services, 13 April 2007

FOI REQUEST (ref: 07-17) submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within 5 days)

"The Authority does not have a policy on the use of biometrics in educational institutions."

Elaine Witcomb, Business Support Manager, Children Learning and Young People, 17 April 2007

FOI REQUEST (ref: Std/FoI/F3/2007/317) submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within 5 days)

1. What is the authority's policy on the use of biometrics in educational institutions within your area? "Darlington Borough Council does not have a policy of the use of biometric technology in schools."
   
2. How many of the following educational institutions within your area, currently use a biometric identifying system (eg fingerprint scanner) for any purpose:
   a) nursery "None of the nursery schools in the Borough use biometric technology for any purpose."
   b) primary school "None of the primary schools in the Borough use biometric technology for any purpose. "
   c) middle school "There are no middle schools in the Borough."
   d) secondary school "None of the secondary schools in the Borough use biometric technology for any purpose."
   e) FE college teaching 16-19 year olds. "None of the FE colleges in the Borough use biometric technology for any purpose."
   
3. Please supply details of any proposed implementation of biometric systems in educational establishments, within your area, with regards to the government's Building Schools for the Future programme or any educational establishment renovation programme. "As far as we are aware, none of the educational establishments in the Borough currently have plans to implement biometric technology."
   
4. If this data is ever likely to be shared with any other organisation, including the police? "This question is not applicable; see the responses [above]."

FOI REQUEST: submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within 4 days)

"In Denbighshire, there is no central policy, nor any record kept of schools using biometric testing. I understand from colleagues that one or two schools have in the past expressed an interest in using fingerprint scanning for computer log-ons, but whether any schools have ever introduced this is not recorded by the Local Authority."

"You are probably aware that Head Teachers are identified by the Information Commissioner as data controllers in their own right and as such, under FoIA, are responsible for processing enquiries independently from the County Council. Should you wish to contact the schools direct, details of our schools e.mail addresses, postal addresses and telephone numbers can be found using the following link:"

www.denbighshire.gov.uk/LL/LifeLong.nsf/Search+(Web)?OpenForm

Chris Harness, Information Management Officer, 16 April 2007

FOI REQUEST: submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within hours)

1. What is the authority's policy on the use of biometrics in educational institutions within your area? "Please note the Council does not collect this information for any purpose apart from that stated. More information on what individual schools currently have in place over and above that stated below can be provided by contacting each school direct."
   
2. How many of the following educational institutions within your area, currently use a biometric identifying system (eg fingerprint scanner) for any purpose?
   a) nursery "None that we are aware of."
   b) primary school "None that we are aware of."
   c) middle school "None that we are aware of."
   d) secondary school "Two that we are aware of."
   e) FE college teaching 16-19 year olds. "None that we are aware of."
   
3. Please supply the names of those institutions using biometric technologies. "Derby City Council's Catering Service - operates biometric technology for the 'Cashless Catering System' at one Secondary School - da Vinci Community College, St.Andrews View. Breadsall. Derby.
   Also Sinfin Community School, Farmhouse Road, Sinfin, Derby operates this system - Derby City Council, does not provide the catering provision at this school."
   
4. Please specify for each institution which uses biometric technology, what purpose the system is used for? (eg electronic registration system.) "Cashless Catering System"
   
5. Please specify for each institution which uses biometric technology whether explicit consent was obtained from parents/guardians before taking the pupils' biometric data? "The individual schools need to be contacted for this information as this is a school's responsibility and not the Council's. "
   
6. Please supply details of any proposed implementation of biometric systems in educational establishments, within your area, with regards to the government's Building Schools for the Future programme or any educational establishment renovation programme. "No further plans for expansion within Derby City Council's Catering Service. We do not provide the catering provision to all city schools. "
   
7. If this data is ever likely to be shared with any other organisation, including the police?

"It is likely that schools will want to expand the use of biometric systems in the next few years."
Alan Charles, cabinet member for education

FOI REQUEST (ref: 101000157026) submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within 8 days)

1. What is the authority's policy on the use of biometrics in educational institutions within your area? "It is obviously at the discretion of individual schools to purchase software appropriate to the School's requirements."
   
2. How many of the following educational institutions within your area, currently use a biometric identifying system (eg fingerprint scanner) for any purpose: "I have attached a list of those schools that to our knowledge have purchased the IdentiKit software, but that does not necessarily confirm that they are using biometrics, as the software also has a bar code option. Unfortunately the records held by the School Library Service do not identify which option the schools are operating."
   
3. Please supply the names of those institutions using biometric technologies. "(Junior Librarian) schools in Devon and Torbay at 18.9.06
   Devon: Bishopsteignton School, Bolham Primary, Combe Martin Primary School, Ermington Primary, Exeter Road Primary School (Exmouth), Forches Cross Primary (Barnstaple), Great Torrington Bluecoat Infants, Ilfracombe Junior, Kingsbridge Primary, Ladysmith Junior (Exeter), Loddiswell Primary, Modbury Primary, Redhills Primary (Exeter), St John's Catholic Primary (Tiverton), St Joseph's RC Primary (Exmouth), St Leonard's Primary (Exeter), St Mary's Primary (Bideford), St Michael's (Kingsteignton), St Sidwell's Primary (Exeter), Sticklepath Primary (Barnstaple), Stoke Canon Primary, Stoke Gabriel Primary, Stoke Hill Junior (Exeter), Tipton St John Primary, Westcliff School (Dawlish), Wolborough Primary (Newton Abbot), Woodlands Park Primary (Ivybridge)"
   
4. Please specify for each institution which uses biometric technology, what purpose the system is used for? (eg electronic registration system.) "The Authority is only aware of one system that has the ability to utilise biometric details being used in Devon schools and that is IndentiKit Library System from Micro Librarian Systems."
   
5. Please specify for each institution which uses biometric technology whether explicit consent was obtained from parents/guardians before taking the pupils' biometric data? "The School Library Service provides guidance to each school purchasing this software, recommending that written approval is obtained from every parent prior to the inclusion of a pupil within the database."
   
6. Please supply details of any proposed implementation of biometric systems in educational establishments, within your area, with regards to the government's Building Schools for the Future programme or any educational establishment renovation programme. "Devon Local Authority is not planning any implementation of biometric software into it's schools. However, it is obviously at the discretion of individual schools to purchase software appropriate to the School's requirements and I cannot therefore be certain that schools have no plans for implementation."
   

FOI REQUEST: submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within 4 days)

"None of the schools in the Dorset Local Education Authority are using biometric testing."

Miss Hannah Rashley, Freedom of Information Officer, 16 April 2007

FOI REQUEST (ref: 1075431) submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within 5 days)

"This information is not held by Dudley MBC as the installation and use of such systems is a matter for individual Headteachers and the Governing Body of the school. The Local Authority does not have any policies related to this issue and has not issued guidance to date; I do understand however that the Information Commissioner may be issuing guidance in the near future."

"If you wish to contact individual schools to seek more information a list of schools within Dudley Borough can be found on www.dudley.gov.uk/EasySite/public/searchResults.asp"

"In relation to FE Colleges; Dudley MBC is responsible for statutory education up to the age of 16 years, an individual request would be required to each college."

Lorraine Tozer, Training & Development Officer, Directorate of Children's Services, 17 April 2007

FOI REQUEST: submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within 7 days)

"Biometrics are not used in educational institutions in East Dunbartonshire."

Janice Miller, Freedom of Information/Data Protection Officer, 19 April 2007

FOI REQUEST (ref: 2007/092) submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within 4 days)

"'We have no policy in this matter and none of our schools has any biometric technology in place.'"

Mary Horsburgh, Asst Administrative Officer, 16 April 2007

FOI REQUEST: submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within 13 days)

1. What is the authority's policy on the use of biometrics in educational institutions within your area? "There is no policy on the use of biometrics in educational establishments."
   
2. How many of the following educational institutions within your area, currently use a biometric identifying system (eg fingerprint scanner) for any purpose: "Nil. Please note that FE colleges are independent and not managed by local authorities."
   
3. Please supply details of any proposed implementation of biometric systems in educational establishments, within your area, with regards to the government's Building Schools for the Future programme or any educational establishment renovation programme. "N/a"
   

"Our view is that [fingerprint recognition] is still too unreliable to be implemented in schools. The Council does not therefore have a policy on this matter... We would always recommend that [schools] fully consult with parents before implementing such procedures. Unfortunately we... cannot say whether any schools have implemented any such systems."
Andrew Williams, Director of Children, Family & Adult Service

FOI REQUEST (ref: 070412-000003) submitted 12 Apr 2007 (answered within hours)

"Further to your Freedom of Information Request below we are aware of no schools or educational institutions within the London Borough of Enfield that have used or plan to use Biometric technology."

Sam Buckley, Senior Information Officer, 13 April 2007