DCFS Guidance on Biometrics

[GrumbleDook]

On behalf of DCFS, Becta have issued guidance on the use of Biometrics in schools. Here is a link to the news item on the Becta site which also also links to the full document.

[ctbjs]

I think this is only common sense and should be applied across the board for anything like this including the use of ID cards within school. Consultation with parents and awareness for students is a must. On a personal note the cost of biometrics at the moment is not really that much of a saving in time against standard methods and are likely to be susceptible to student tampering, ie bogey on finger, next kid won't go near it, black in on finger, next kids fingerprint doesn't read. We've just decided against it for now as a cost of £34000 for biometrics did not seem cost effective to us. Nice idea but a costly one in my eyes.