FAQs: Can parents whose children attend a private school/college still get access to their children's school reports?

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In the majority of circumstances it will be reasonable for schools to release reports to parents. There will be a small number of exceptions to this, for example where there are court protection orders against a parent. Schools will need to consider the circumstances of such cases as they arise.

National Privacy Principle 2 (NPP 2) sets out the obligations for the use and disclosure of personal information by organisations covered by the new private sector provisions.

Under NPP 2 an organisation, such as a private school or college, can disclose information for the primary purpose that it was collected or for a related secondary purpose where the individual would reasonably expect it to be disclosed. In the case of a school report, the primary purpose of the collection of the information would be to provide information on the progress of a student. Under NPP2.1(a) a related secondary purpose, and one that most students would reasonably expect, is that this information would be provided to parents.