Research on In Service Training Days (INSET) Interviews and focus groups (professionals)

The Welsh Government has commissioned Miller Research Ltd to undertake research to understand how schools and local authorities use INSET days. The aim of this research is to gather evidence on the effectiveness of INSET in supporting practitioners to develop their practice and skills to improve outcomes for learners.  

As part of this project Miller Research Ltd. will be gathering information through a series of semi-structured interviews and focus groups with professionals across the Welsh education system. Participants include Welsh Government policy leads/teams, representatives of Regional Education Consortia, local authorities, and school staff.  

The Welsh Government is the data controller for the research. However, Miller Research Ltd. will delete any personal data provided through the interviews/focus groups, and anonymise the raw data, before it is shared with the Welsh Government. 

The information collected during the project will be included in a report published on the Welsh Government website. 

Your participation in the interviews and/or focus groups is completely voluntary. However, your views and experiences are important to help inform Government Policies.  

The contact for this research at Miller Research Ltd. is Geof Andrews 

E-mail address: geof@miller-research.co.uk 

 PRIVACY NOTICE 

What personal data do we hold and where do we get this information? 

Personal data is defined under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) as ‘any information relating to an identifiable person who can be directly or indirectly identified by reference to an identifier’. 

You have been contacted to take part in this research because: 

• the Welsh Government have provided your contact details (name and email address) to Miller Research Ltd. The Welsh government hold your details because of ongoing engagement on school policy. 

• you have previously provided your contact details (name and email address) to Miller Research Ltd. and have an established and legitimate professional interest in the topic covered by this research. 

• you have been approached by a mutually known third party e.g. your Headteacher who have asked if you would be willing to take part. You have agreed for that third party to share your details (name and work-based email address) with Miller Research Ltd.   

The research does not require the collection of additional personal data from you, other than your image if you agree to a meeting being video recorded. 

Your participation is voluntary and if you do not wish to take part or be sent reminders then please reply to the invitation email and your details will be removed. Miller Research Ltd. will only use email address and telephone number for the purposes of this research project.  

If you choose to provide additional personal data as part of the research, we will try not to identify you from, or link your identity to, the responses you provide.  

We may wish to record interviews and focus groups for operational reasons. We will make this clear to you before discussion begins, and you will have the opportunity to tell us if you are not happy to be recorded. Focus group discussions will only be recorded if all members of the group are happy for this to happen. If discussions are recorded, any personal data shared, will be removed during the process of transcribing. Recordings will be deleted as soon as this process is completed. If discussions are not recorded, personal data will not be included in written notes prepared during or following the focus group or interviews. 

If you raise a query or complaint and provide personal data requesting a response, the researcher will forward the request only to the relevant official and subsequently delete it from the research data. 

What is the lawful basis for using your data? 

The lawful basis for processing information in this data collection exercise is our public task; that is, exercising our official authority to undertake the core role and functions of the Welsh Government.  

Participation is entirely voluntary. However, your involvement will help the research project better consider stakeholders’ views and provide a deeper understanding of the requirements and challenges regarding INSET, which will inform future provision. 

How secure is your personal data? 

Personal information provided to Miller Research Ltd. is always stored on a secure server. The data can only be accessed by a limited number of researchers working on this project. Miller Research Ltd. will only use this data for research purposes.  Miller Research Ltd. hold Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation. 

Miller Research Ltd. have procedures to deal with any suspected data security breaches. If a suspected breach occurs, Miller Research Ltd. will report this to the Welsh Government who will notify you and any applicable regulator where there is a legal requirement to do so.  

Miller Research Ltd. will use the information gathered to produce a report that will be published on the Welsh Government website. This report will not include any information that could be used to identify individual participants. 

How long do we keep your personal data?  

Miller Research Ltd. will hold personal data for the duration of the contract period and any personal data not already deleted will be deleted within three months of the end of that contract. This includes your contact details.  

Individual rights 

Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights in relation to the personal information you provide as part of this research, specifically you have the right: 

• To access a copy of your own data;  

• For us to rectify inaccuracies in that data; 

• To object to or restrict processing (in certain circumstances); 

• For your data to be ‘erased’ (in certain circumstances); and 

• To lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) who is our independent regulator for data protection. 

The contact details for the Information Commissioner’s Office are:  

Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF. Phone: 0303 123 1113. Website: www.ico.org.uk 

Further Information 

If you have any further questions about how the data provided as part of this study will be used by the Welsh Government or wish to exercise your rights using the UK General Data Protection Regulation, please contact: 

Name: Claire Griffiths 

E-mail address: claire.griffiths001@gov.wales  

Telephone number: 0300 025 1015 

 The Welsh Government’s Data Protection Officer can be contacted at:  

Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ, Email: DataProtectionOfficer@gov.wales.