Background
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (Regulation (EU) 2016/679) is a Regulation by which the European Commission intends to strengthen and unify data protection laws for individuals within the European Union (EU). It also addresses export of personal data outside the EU. The Commission's primary objectives of the GDPR are to give citizens back the control of their personal data and to simplify the regulatory environment for international business by unifying the regulation within the EU. When the GDPR takes effect it will replace the data protection directive (officially Directive 95/46/EC) [2] from 1995. The regulation was adopted on 27 April 2016 and will take effect from 25 May 2018 after a two-year transition period. The result of the 23 June 2016 referendum on membership of the EU now means that the Government needs to consider the impact on the GDPR and confirm its adoption.

Capita SIMS 
Capita SIMS takes its responsibility very seriously in supporting schools to ensure they meet their obligation to protecting data. They are reviewing the legislation and have already started a discussion on the impact of the changes with the ICO (Information Commissioners Office).  The ICO will shortly be publishing guidance on the new regulation and the difference of the existing Data Protection act against the new GDPR which will allow further consideration of any changes they may need to make in our software.

Should they need to implement changes to SIMS or offer enhanced support services they would expect to do this as part of their 2017/18 Roadmap to ensure schools have the ability to be compliant before May 2018.