Dai Durbridge
Partner
Manchester
dai.durbridge@brownejacobson.com
+44 (0)330 045 2105
Dai leads our team on safeguarding and data protection and heads up the North West education team based in Manchester. He is recognised as an education law expert by Legal 500.
Dai is known for his innovative and engaging training courses for Data Protection Officers and Designated Safeguarding Leads as well as for his practical and jargon-free advice on a range of issues including admissions, exclusions, parental complaints and, of course, safeguarding and data protection.
In safeguarding, Dai works with schools and trusts on day-to-day and complex safeguarding issues including safer recruitment, handling disclosures of abuse, managing allegations against staff and child deaths. He also carries out safeguarding governance audits for trusts, supports larger trusts with the development and implementation of five year safeguarding strategies and acts as a coach/mentor for DSL’s providing external guidance and advice.
The increased focus on data protection provided Dai with the opportunity to lead on supporting schools and trusts in this area of compliance. Dai helps schools and trusts manage personal data breaches, cyberattacks, subject access requests and the drafting of policies, procedures and privacy notices. Through his various training courses, Dai has trained and developed over 500 Data Protection Officers.
Expertise
Featured experience
Data protection training for DPOs
Through foundation, intermediate and advanced DPO training courses, over 250 school and trust DPOs have been trained and supported to undertake their role. Most of the delegates agreed that having attended the course they will be more efficient in their role and spend less on external support and advice.
MAT DSL training and development
Working with three cohorts of Trust DSLs delivering a 20-hour training course over four months, covering safeguarding governance and culture, trust wide consistency, using safeguarding data, DSL support and development, and safeguarding quality assurance
Child death review support
Following the tragic suicide of a secondary aged pupil, guided the trust through the child death review process and the inquest and helped them manage intense press and community interest.
Reducing the burden of SARs
Advised a trust on reducing the burden of subject access requests (SAR) by working with the individual to reduce the scope of the SAR, to limit the amount of work undertaken on completing the search and on complex elements of redaction.
Testimonials
"As a school we have felt extremely supported by Dai Durbridge. The response time is always by return and the advice given is always measured and detailed. The support had enabled us to deal swiftly with issues arising with confidence in the knowledge that we have been given school specific guidance."
You may be interested in...
Legal Update
Mitigating the impact of school data breaches
Legal Update
AI adoption in schools: Meeting ICO expectations
Press Release
Education predictions: What does 2025 have in store for schools, trusts and universities?
On-Demand
Embracing AI in schools: Ensuring accountability, compliance and good governance
On-Demand
Shaping a culture of respect and safety: Preventing sexual harassment in our schools
Legal Update
Be prepared for the 2024/25 school year
Guide
Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSiE) 2024: The main changes and what to do next
Legal Update
Be prepared - September 2023
On-Demand
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023 – implementing the key changes
Legal Update
The Online Safety Bill – what does it mean for schools?
Legal Update
be prepared for the 2022-23 academic year
Legal Update
#EdCon2023 virtual event hailed a success
Legal Update
Safeguarding at scale report published
Legal Update
EdCon2023 launch: Thursday 12 January
Press Release
Education team maintains clean sweep of top rankings in latest legal directories
Browne Jacobson’s education team has again been confirmed as a national powerhouse after securing five Tier 1 rankings relating to Education in the latest edition of Legal 500 and maintaining a Band 1 UK-wide ranking for Education in Chambers & Partners UK 2023.
On-Demand
Understanding the three major changes to Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022
This on-demand webinar is suitable for senior leaders in education settings, including CEOs, COOs and CFOs, head teachers and principals, directors and heads of HR, designated safeguarding leads, governors and Trustees.
On-Demand
Complex allegations and safeguarding terminations: How to limit cost, risk and delay
Be empowered to take a realistic approach to risk by understanding the likely outcomes of a dismissal. And, learn how timely, strategic decision-making can limit costs associated with removing unsuitable employees.
On-Demand
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2021
The Keeping Children Safe in Education 2021 guidance includes a number of updates, the most significant of which is the creation of Section Two of Part Five. This introduces the concept of low-level concerns raised about staff, supply staff, volunteers and contractors.
On-Demand
Exam results 2020 – student access to centre assessed grades and rankings
In this on demand webinar, data protection in schools expert Dai Durbridge provides clarity on the issue.
On-Demand
Keeping children safe 2020 – managing allegations and agency staff
Our leading HR and safeguarding experts Emma Hughes and Dai Durbridge will provide you with all the information you need in order to meet your statutory obligations in the on-demand recording.
On-Demand
Admission appeals - conducting hearings during COVID-19
Strict social distancing measures mean that all admission authorities must adapt their processes to ensure that families who submit an appeal are not disadvantaged and are able to have their appeal heard by an independent panel in a fair and transparent manner.
On-Demand
Keeping children safe during Covid-19
On 27 March the Department for Education (DfE) released new guidance to schools and academy trusts to help keep children safe, including online, during the Coronavirus pandemic.