Your personal data is collected, stored, and used by our staff to communicate with you, identify you from other applicants, and deliver our services to you. This will include validating that qualification and identity information provided by you is accurate, and that you hold the qualifications submitted to us for comparison.
For most of the services provided, we operate as a Processor. This means we only process personal data under the instructions of another organisation, who is the Controller. The Controller is responsible for determining the purpose of processing and the lawful basis for processing.
Throughout this section we will clearly identify the Controller for each service. Where the service is being provided by Ecctis on behalf of another third party, you should read this Privacy Notice in conjunction with the privacy information provided by the following organisations:
Department for Education (DfE): Personal information charter - Department for Education - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
UK Home Office: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-information-use-in-borders-immigration-and-citizenship/borders-immigration-and-citizenship-privacy-information-notice
The following information relates to current services and applies where you apply directly to us via our website, or by post:
Statement of Comparability (including Fast Track services and Translation Waiver)
We process your personal data on behalf of the Department for Education (DfE) for the purpose of the Statement of Comparability service. This is to enable you to evidence the comparable level of your qualifications completed outside of the UK against those in the UK education frameworks.
Our role |
We act as a Processor of your personal data. The Controller of your personal data is the DfE. |
What information we need and why |
We collect and process personal data including your name, contact details, date of birth, identity and qualification documents and information to deliver the service to you, to identify you, to verify the qualifications, and to communicate with you about your application.
We collect and process information relating to the reasons for your application (including refugee status) to ensure we are delivering the correct service to you and to optimise our services for your needs.
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Lawful Basis for Processing |
These are determined by the DfE – you should refer to their privacy notice: Personal information charter - Department for Education - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) |
How long we keep it |
For completed applications, we retain information for a period of up to 25 years. This is necessary for detecting and preventing crime, fraudulent applications, preserving the integrity of our services, and providing the services in compliance with our contractual obligations.
We actively discourage applicants from sending original paper documentation to support their application, as it is unnecessary. Paper documentation will be confidentially destroyed within a maximum of 12 months from completion of the service or the last action on an account, unless we are required to retain the documents.
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Industry Skills Statement
We process your personal data as Controller for the purpose of the Industry Skills Statement service. This is to enable you to evidence your overseas qualifications for those in the construction, plumbing, electrical, or land-based sectors.
Our role |
We are the Controller of your personal data. |
What information we need and why |
We collect and process personal data including your name, contact details, date of birth, identity and qualification documents and information to deliver the service to you, to identify you, to verify the qualifications, and to communicate with you about your application.
We collect and process information relating to the reasons for your application (including refugee status) to ensure we are delivering the correct service to you and to optimise our services for your needs.
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Lawful Basis for Processing |
We rely on Legitimate Interests as the lawful basis for delivering the service to you, since it is in the interests of you, us, and the general public to be able to issue statements and/or confirm the contents of our statements if necessary. |
How long we keep it |
For completed applications, we retain information for a period of up to 10 years. This is necessary for detecting and preventing crime, fraudulent applications, and preserving the integrity of our services.
Scanned documents submitted in support of applications are deleted within seven years of the service being completed, or the last action on an account.
We actively discourage applicants from sending original paper documentation to support their application, as it is unnecessary. Paper documentation will be confidentially destroyed within a maximum of 12 months from completion of the service or the last action on an account, unless we are required to retain the documents.
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UK Qualification Reference Statement
We process your personal data on behalf of the Department for Education (DfE) for the purpose of the UK Qualification Reference Statement service. This is to enable you to receive detailed information about your completed UK qualification(s).
Our role |
We act as a Processor of your personal data. The Controller of your personal data is the DfE. |
What information we need and why |
This is determined by the DfE, but includes information such as your name, contact details, and date of birth to deliver the service to you, to identify you, to verify the qualifications, and to communicate with you about your application.
We collect and process information relating to your qualifications (including copies of documentation) to provide the requested service to you.
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Lawful Basis for Processing |
These are determined by the DfE – you should refer to their privacy notice: Personal information charter - Department for Education - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) |
How long we keep it |
For completed applications, we retain information for a period of up to 25 years. This is necessary for detecting and preventing crime, fraudulent applications, preserving the integrity of our services, and providing the services in compliance with our contractual obligations.
We actively discourage applicants from sending original paper documentation to support their application, as it is unnecessary. Paper documentation will be confidentially destroyed within a maximum of 12 months from completion of the service or the last action on an account, unless we are required to retain the documents.
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Visas and Nationality Service
We process your personal data on behalf of the UK Home Office for the purpose of the Visas and Nationality services. This is to enable you to evidence the level of your degree and/or your English language proficiency.
Our role |
We act as a Processor of your personal data. The Controller of your information is the Home Office. |
What information we need and why |
This is determined by the UK Home Office, but includes information such as your name, contact details, date of birth, identity and qualification documents, and information to deliver the service to you, to identify you, to verify the qualifications, and to communicate with you about your application.
Your biometric data will also be collected and used solely for the purpose of identity verification, ensuring the security and integrity of our services.
We collect and process information relating to your qualifications (including copies of documentation) to provide the requested service to you on behalf of the Home Office.
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Lawful Basis for Processing |
These are determined by the Home Office – you should refer to their privacy notice: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-information-use-in-borders-immigration-and-citizenship/borders-immigration-and-citizenship-privacy-information-notice |
How long we keep it |
For completed applications, we retain information for a period of up to 25 years. This is necessary for detecting and preventing crime, fraudulent applications, preserving the integrity of our services, and providing the services in compliance with our contractual obligations.
We actively discourage applicants from sending original paper documentation to support their application, as it is unnecessary. Paper documentation will be confidentially destroyed within a maximum of 12 months from completion of the service or the last action on an account, unless we are required to retain the documents.
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Early Years Services (Early Years Statement and Early Years Advisory Service)
We process your personal data on behalf of the DfE for the purpose of the Early Years services. This includes the Early Years Statement service, the domestic Early Years Confirmation service, and the discontinued Early Years Service. This is to enable you to evidence your early years specialised qualifications for gaining the required recognition to work in an early years setting in England.
Our role |
We act as a Processor of your personal data. The Controller of your personal data is the DfE. |
What information we need and why |
We retain and process information including your name, contact details, date of birth, and information relating to your qualifications (including copies of documentation) and identity to confirm the contents of your statement and confirm authenticity of Statements.
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Lawful Basis for Processing |
These are determined by the DfE – you should refer to their privacy notice: Personal information charter - Department for Education - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) |
How long we keep it |
For completed applications, we retain information for a period of up to 25 years. This is necessary for detecting and preventing crime, fraudulent applications, preserving the integrity of our services, and providing the services in compliance with our contractual obligations.
We actively discourage applicants from sending original paper documentation to support their application, as it is unnecessary. Paper documentation will be confidentially destroyed within a maximum of 12 months from completion of the service or the last action on an account, unless we are required to retain the documents.
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Confirming the content of a Statement to a third party
On occasion we will be asked to confirm that a Statement issued by us is genuine and/or accurate. This might be, for example, where you have provided your Statement to a third party for them to rely on its contents.
Where we are asked to do so, we will confirm whether the Statement was issued and whether the information contained in the Statement is accurate.
Our role |
It depends on the Statement being requested and therefore which service(s) you have used. Please see the service-specific information where we have defined our role as Controller or Processor. |
What information we need and why |
No further personal data will be collected. |
Lawful Basis for Processing |
We will confirm whether information provided to us matches our records. We will never volunteer any personal data to a third party.
When we are acting as Controller, the lawful basis that we will rely upon to process this information will be Legitimate Interests since it is in the interests of us, you, and the general public for statements to be able to be relied upon and checked for accuracy.
When we are acting as a Processor, the lawful basis will be determined by the relevant Controller and can be found in their privacy notice (see links under the service-specific information).
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Who we share it with |
Organisations to whom a Statement has been disclosed by you if they wish to confirm its authenticity. We will confirm with the enquirer whether information matches our records. |
How long we keep it |
For completed applications, we retain information for a period of up to 25 years. This is necessary for detecting and preventing crime, fraudulent applications, preserving the integrity of our services, and providing the services in compliance with our contractual obligations.
We actively discourage applicants from sending original paper documentation to support their application, as it is unnecessary. Paper documentation will be confidentially destroyed within a maximum of 12 months from completion of the service or the last action on an account, unless we are required to retain the documents.
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Historical and Discontinued Services
The following information relates to historical, discontinued services (which we no longer offer) and applies where you applied directly to us via our website, or by post:
English Language Assessment
We may continue to process your personal data on behalf of the DfE for the purpose of the discontinued English Language Assessment service. For completed applications, we are required to retain your personal data for a period of 25 years. This allows us to confirm the contents of Statements should you seek to rely on them within this time period.
Our role |
We act as a Processor of your personal data. The Controller of your personal data is the DfE. |
What information we need and why |
We retain and process information including your name, contact details, date of birth, and information relating to your qualifications (including copies of documentation) and identity to confirm the contents of your statement and confirm authenticity of Statements.
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Lawful Basis for Processing |
These are determined by the DfE – you should refer to their privacy notice: Personal information charter - Department for Education - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) |
How long we keep it |
For completed applications, we retain information for a period of up to 25 years. This is necessary for detecting and preventing crime, fraudulent applications, preserving the integrity of our services, and providing the services in compliance with our contractual obligations.
We actively discourage applicants from sending original paper documentation to support their application, as it is unnecessary. Paper documentation will be confidentially destroyed within a maximum of 12 months from completion of the service or the last action on an account, unless we are required to retain the documents.
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Career Path Report
We may continue to process your personal data on behalf of the DfE for the purpose of the discontinued Career Path Report service. For completed applications, we are required to retain your personal data for a period of 25 years. This allows us to confirm the contents of Statements should you seek to rely on them within this time period.
Our role |
We act as a Processor of your personal data. The Controller of your personal data is the DfE. |
What information we need and why |
We retain and process information including your name, contact details, date of birth, and information relating to your qualifications (including copies of documentation) and identity to confirm the contents of your statement and confirm authenticity of Statements.
|
Lawful Basis for Processing |
These are determined by the DfE – you should refer to their privacy notice: Personal information charter - Department for Education - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) |
How long we keep it |
For completed applications, we retain information for a period of up to 25 years. This is necessary for detecting and preventing crime, fraudulent applications, preserving the integrity of our services, and providing the services in compliance with our contractual obligations.
We actively discourage applicants from sending original paper documentation to support their application, as it is unnecessary. Paper documentation will be confidentially destroyed within a maximum of 12 months from completion of the service or the last action on an account, unless we are required to retain the documents.
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