I found the decision around this is on http://www.ico.gov.uk/~/media/documents/decisionnotices/2011/fs_50314844.ash x The lesson to be learned is that one complaint about access can open a can of worms. In other words, don't ask about anything in case the Information Commissioner takes it into their mind to close everything! The only thing I would argue on this case, is that the Code of Practice for archivists and records managers under section 51.4 of the Data Protection Act 1998 says: "Assume a lifespan of 100 years . If the age of an adult data subject is not known, assume that he was 16 at the time of the records . If the age of a child data subject is not known, assume he was less than 1 at the time of the records". But in case of school records, the DOB is given so it would be possible to work out how old the children were at the time of the records. In that case, 100 years is too much and the admission registers could be open until the page where the youngest child would now be 100 years old. That would mean primary/Church school records could probably be closed for 95/6 years and grammar schools for 90 years. Nit picking, I know, but those few years could mean a lot. I posted about this on another forum and was told how to appeal, but I go back to my earlier point about cans of worms. It might, however, be worth quoting it to ERO if you want to see the records. On the other forum, I had a reply from someone whose school records are from the 1940s, and they were totally opposed to their records being accessed. My husband, on the other hand, is quite happy to let people know that he "shuns work for long periods"! -----Original Message----- From: La Greenall [mailto:eldeworth@googlemail.com] Sent: 07 November 2012 11:45 To: Adrian Gray Cc: essex-uk@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [Ess] Removal of school records from public access by the ERO This is also mentioned in the latest ERO e-bulletin (http://www.essexrecordofficeblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/ 2012/05/November-e-bulletin.pdf) [remove the line break]. I don't think much could be done easily, but it would be useful to know exactly how the "decision by the Information Commissioner concerning data protection issues" was worded by him/her, and specifically what concerns they had and tried to address with this decision. An enquiry to ERO or to the IC would be a start. Also, I note that after this item in the e-bulletin is an announcement that the Public Services Quality Group (PSQG) Survey of visitors to UK archives 2012 will be held at ERO over 12-16 Nov, and there is a plea to "please do... take the opportunity to make your voice heard." That this immediately follows the school records closure announcement cannot be mere coincidence? Perhaps ERO feels that its hands are tied and is hoping that lots of its clients (us) will protest and force the IC to have a reconsider. Lawrence On 05/11/2012 11:18, Adrian Gray wrote: > Dear All, > > It seems that concerns have been raised regarding whether or not school > records are confidential information, and the ERO have decided to withdraw > a considerable chunk of them from public access. This is (a) ridiculous as > they've been available at least since they were microfilmed in the 1980s > and (b) incredibly bad news for anyone trying to track people in > that awkward post-1911 census gap. > > I've appended below a list of sources affected - please note that the > information I have ONLY covers the Saffron Walden Archive Access Point, so > the number of records affected is almost certainly much greater. > > Is there anything we can do about this? > > Adrian > > > > *School Records* > > > > 03 November 2012 all microfilms containing school log books and other > documents relating to the information about local schools has been > withdrawn from the Archive Access Point in Saffron Walden as per ruling by > the Information Commissioner because of the concerns about the release of > confidential information. > > > > Ph 4/140/1-4 Boys' British School*, Saffron Walden* > > Managers' Minutes 1838-1938 > > Ph 4/140/5-7 Boys' British School, *Saffron Walden* > > Managers' Minutes 1939-1950 > > Log Books 1863-1879, 1893-1905 > > Ph 4/140/9-10 Boy's British School,* Saffron Walden* > > Log Books 1939-1965 > > E/ML 241 Boys' British School, *Saffron Walden* > > Log Books 1900-1939 > > > > D/Q 25/1-4 *Newport* Grammar School Admission Registers > 1855-1917 > > Attendance Registers 1839-1882 > > D/Q 25/5-9 *Newport* Grammar School Attendance Registers > 1878-1914 > > > > T/A 570 *Great Sampford* School Admissions Register > 1896-1941, > > School Board Minutes 1872-1885, Letter Book 1874-1881, > > Log Book 1877-1961 > > > > T/A868/3/1-7 Records of South Road Voluntary School, *Saffron > Walden* > > Admissions Register 1895-1944 Honours Book 1933-1965 > > > > T/P 346 St. Mary's Church of England School, *Saffron > Walden* > > Log Books (girls) 1863-1924 > > T/P 346 St. Mary's Church of England School, *Saffron > Walden* > > Log Books (boys) 1863-1911 > > T/P 347 St. Mary's Church of England School, *Saffron > Walden* > > Log Books 1924-1950 > > > > T/P 350/1/1 *Radwinter *C of E School: log book 1923-1965, > > Managers' minutes 1905-1974 > > T/P 350/1/2 *Radwinter* C of E School: Admissions Registers > 1928-1977, Evacuees' Admissions 1939 > > > > T/P 386/1-3 *Ashdon* CPS Log Books 1878-1930 > > > > T/P 436/1-4 *Debden *C of E primary School Log Books > 1871-1953, Admission register 1918-1968, > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Any problems, please contact the List Admin: Essex-UK-admin@rootsweb.com > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ESSEX-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Found the following in the parish church of Great Dunmow Essex, ref. D/P 11/1/2 12 October 1682 John Leardner [baptised] a Quakers' son of Bourton on ye Water in Gloceftershire being about fifteen years old. Someone may be searching for him? Glyn