School newsletters / marketing

[smurfomatic]

I'm trying to draft our data protection policy, pretty much from scratch. Things are complicated by being an independent school, so we are covered by the details involving charities as well as education.

 

One query at the moment - at what point does a school newsletter (sent out every week with what's happening - sports fixtures, trips etc.) become a marketing tool if we add on "please contribute to the new school building fund"?

 

If a current parent has opted out of direct marketing but still needs to receive the newsletter, are we in breach of their request to avoid the marketing? Bear in mind the newsletter will still be 90% school bases, run of the mill details.

[elsiegee40]

I would simply add a question to ask specifically about the newsletter.

 

A newsletter is marketing what you have done or will be doing - it doesn’t have to mention money to be a marketing tool.

 

Without the specific exception agreement, it gets lumped in with marketing; it’s in the class of things that annoy when they drop into inboxes or through letterboxes.

 

As an aside, I assume that your school is aware that as a charity, the cost of marketing is VAT free. The only thing without registering for VAT! Just make sure you give the printer, newspaper or whoever the school’s charity number and they can charge you excluding VAT

[jdoyle]

PECR notes from the ICO would be worth a read

 

https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-pecr/electronic-and-telephone-marketing/electronic-mail-marketing/

[smurfomatic]

Thanks for the above. We are going to reword our opt-in for the newsletter to make it clear that it may include marketing and fundraising information.