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College has sent information to Apprenticeship employer that he is Autistic without consent.

NAS65492

Hi all,

My son had been doing a carpentry course and went for an apprenticeship of which the company wanted to employ him.  He has worked at the company since January full time this year until he can start his apprenticeship in March. 

The college have taken a long time (applied Sept 2025) and have just arrange an interview of which they have now sent information to the College which was on his original application for the college, his GCSE results and that he has ASD.  We made it very clear to his tutors etc that he did not want the employer to know of his diagnosis .   

He was asked today by his work partner who is teaching him if he has Special Needs (to which he replied no)  He doesn't see himself as having needs and just wants to be treated 'normally' and get on with his life and work hard.  He has his interview next week with both Directors the College and himself.  I rang the college yesterday after I saw the email that had divulged his personal information.  There is no safeguarding issue and I was told that nothing would be said (this was verbal so have nothing in writing), he did have an EHCP and we were told that it would not continue once he is on an apprenticeship.  The College said a Manager would call me back yesterday and I have not heard anything.  I am very worried that 1) he will lose his apprenticeship as they perhaps won't want to take him on and 2) my son really didn't want anyone knowing, he has never told anyone.  Thank you for reading and any help guidance would be very much appreciated.

Parents

  • I would complain both to the college and the Information commissioner!  This is indeed a breech of GDPR

    Whilst there can be advantages to disclosing a diagnosis, there can be huge disadvantages and it is nobody's business but the individual concerned to decide what to do and disclose or not.  The college must not do that to other students in future.

    Since the 'damage' to your son's embarrassment has already done and cannot be undone, however, I would encourage him to appreciate that legal protections have also just kicked in for him.  No, he cannot lose his apprenticeship just because they now know he is Autistic.  That would be clear discrimination of the type that would land the company in court if they refused him a job or sacked him on those grounds.

    Cold comfort, I know when his right to be the determiner of who gets to know has been breeched.

Reply

  • I would complain both to the college and the Information commissioner!  This is indeed a breech of GDPR

    Whilst there can be advantages to disclosing a diagnosis, there can be huge disadvantages and it is nobody's business but the individual concerned to decide what to do and disclose or not.  The college must not do that to other students in future.

    Since the 'damage' to your son's embarrassment has already done and cannot be undone, however, I would encourage him to appreciate that legal protections have also just kicked in for him.  No, he cannot lose his apprenticeship just because they now know he is Autistic.  That would be clear discrimination of the type that would land the company in court if they refused him a job or sacked him on those grounds.

    Cold comfort, I know when his right to be the determiner of who gets to know has been breeched.

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