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Child protection records: retention

Understand the guidance on keeping child protection records, including the information on pupil files, court orders and allegations made against members of staff.

Last reviewed on 1 December 2025See updates
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 12194
Contents
  1. Keeping child protection records
  2. Keeping records of allegations made against staff
  3. Keeping court orders relating to pupils

Keeping child protection records

If a pupil leaves your school and:

  • Starts attending another school, you should pass on their child protection records to that school. Read our article on transferring child protection files for more advice
  • Doesn't move to another school, you should keep their child protection records until their 25th birthday

Records should be stored either as a separate file, or in a sealed envelope in the pupil file.

This is is set out in the DfE's guidance on record keeping and management (see the section 'create a data retention schedule').

Keep the file for longer if it relates to child sexual abuse

You should retain this information until the child’s 75th birthday. This is a recommendation made by the Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).

If allegations of abuse made about a member of staff were found to be malicious or false, remove details of those