Stop Worrying About Data Audits—Start Focusing on Your Students
Navigating the complex requirements of KCSIE and UK GDPR shouldn't distract from teaching and learning. For many West Midlands schools, the "challenge" of digital compliance is a growing administrative burden. Whether you are a standalone primary or a large Multi-Academy Trust (MAT), Formiti is your local partner to turn regulatory risk into a secure digital environment.
Overwhelmed by DfE Filtering & Monitoring Standards?
Stay ahead of the latest 2025 DfE Digital & Technology Standards and the UK Data Use and Access Act without getting lost in technical jargon. We provide the technical evidence you need for your next Ofsted inspection, ensuring your filtering systems are robust and documented.
The School DPO Expertise Gap?
Access a specialized team of education data experts for a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire. From managing high volumes of Parental Subject Access Requests (SARs) to vetting the latest AI classroom tools, we provide scalable, Birmingham-based support that fits your school's budget.
Stop the "Data Monster"—Take Control of Your Third-Party Vendor Risks.
The Service Pillar: Digital Safety & IT Governance
This isn't just a DPO role; it's a managed compliance ecosystem. We provide three distinct layers of protection that bridge the gap between "keeping data safe" and "keeping students safe."
- The Technical Audit (The "Shield")
- The EdTech Vetting (The "Gatekeeper")
- The Local Expert (The "Guidance")
Why Choose Formiti?
The Managed Digital Safety Difference
The Power of Three Teams:
When you partner with us, you don't just get an individual; you gain an entire department. Your school is supported by our specialized Privacy, Legal, and Operations teams, ensuring that technical IT fixes are always validated by legal counsel.
DfE 2025 Standard Readiness:
We are the only local provider that integrates the latest Department for Education (DfE) Filtering and Monitoring requirements directly into your audit. We don't just tell you to be safe; we provide the technical evidence for your next Ofsted inspection.
Conflict-of-Interest Free:
Appointing an internal IT Manager or Business Manager as your DPO can create legal risks. As an external partner, Formiti provides impartial, unbiased oversight that satisfies regulators and protects your leadership team.
EdTech Mastery via Privacy360:
Using our Privacy360.io platform, we transform your EdTech vetting from a manual headache into an automated process. We pre-vet your apps against the Children's Code, so you know exactly where student data is going.
Local West Midlands Presence:
Based in the heart of Birmingham, we offer the face-to-face support and local knowledge that national "helpdesk-only" firms can't match. We understand the specific needs of West Midlands Academy Trusts because we are part of the community.
The Formiti Liability Shield
Unlike an internal employee, Formiti operates under a strict Service Level Agreement (SLA) and carries comprehensive Professional Indemnity Insurance. This provides a critical layer of risk transfer, protecting your school's budget from the financial fallout of data breaches or regulatory fines.
The Formiti Advantage: The Power of Three Teams
When you partner with Formiti, you don't just get a consultant; you gain a multi-disciplinary powerhouse. Your dedicated Birmingham Education Lead acts as your primary contact, but behind the scenes, three specialized departments work in sync to ensure your school is secure, compliant, and inspection-ready.
The Privacy & Governance Team (The "Strategy")
Our privacy experts manage the "Big Picture" for your school or Trust. They handle the complex Statutory DPO duties, from drafting localized policies to managing high-stakes Subject Access Requests (SARs). They ensure your data governance aligns with both the UK GDPR and the latest DfE mandates.
The Legal & Regulatory Team (The "Compliance")
Our legal specialists provide the final layer of protection. They review Data Processing Agreements (DPAs) with international vendors and monitor the shifting landscape of the UK Data Use and Access Act. They provide the "liability shield" that protects your Governors and Senior Leadership Team.
The Technical & AI Operations Team (The "Shield")
This team speaks the language of your IT department. They perform the technical heavy lifting: auditing your Filtering and Monitoring systems, assessing the security of your EdTech vendors, and establishing safe AI guardrails for the classroom. They ensure that "Digital Safety" is a technical reality.
Is our Digital Safety & IT Governance Service right for your school?
Managing data in a modern educational setting is no longer a "side task" for the IT department—it is a statutory requirement that impacts your Ofsted rating and student safety. Our service is specifically designed for Birmingham and West Midlands schools that recognize the following challenges:
- You are preparing for an Ofsted Inspection: You need a central, "audit-ready" repository of evidence for Filtering, Monitoring, and Data Privacy that can be presented at a moment's notice.
- You are overwhelmed by Subject Access Requests (SARs): If parental or staff SARs are draining your administrative resources, our "Concierge" service takes the burden off your Senior Leadership Team.
- You are adopting new EdTech or AI tools: You want to empower teachers with the latest classroom technology (like ChatGPT or Google Workspace) but need a technical "Safety Gatekeeper" to vet the vendors first.
- You are a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) seeking consistency: You need a single, unified view of compliance across multiple sites, ensuring every school in your trust meets the same high standards via the Privacy360 dashboard.
- You are unsure if you meet 2025 DfE Standards: You have filtering and monitoring in place, but you haven't had a technical third party verify that it meets the specific "Individual, Date, and Time" logging requirements.
- You want to eliminate "Conflict of Interest" risks: You recognize that having your IT Manager also act as the DPO is a regulatory risk and want to move to an independent, professionalized model.
4 SIMPLE STEPS
Getting Started is Easy
01: Contractual Risk Transfer:
We review every EdTech contract and Data Processing Agreement (DPA) to ensure the legal liability sits with the vendor, not your school.
02. Legislative Horizon Scanning:
We monitor changes in UK law—such as the 2025 Data Use and Access Act—so your school is never caught off guard by new compliance requirements.
03. SAR & Litigation Support:
When complex or contentious Subject Access Requests (SARs) arise, our legal experts provide the guidance needed to respond accurately and avoid costly disputes.
04. Governor & Trustee Assurance:
We provide the formal legal reporting required to give your Board of Governors total confidence that the school is meeting its statutory obligations.
OUR OFFICES
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Birmingham, B3 1RB, United Kingdom
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CONTACT US
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