Katie Carson Driving School Ltd
Last Updated: August 2026
Welcome to our Privacy Policy. This page explains how we collect, protect, use, and store your personal data when you train with us, contact us or make payments. We act as the “Data Controller” for your information and are registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
1. Who We Are (The Data Controller)
The data controller responsible for your personal information is:
* Business Name: Katie Carson Driving School LTD
* Owner & Instructor: Katie Carson
* Contact Email: katiejanecarson@gmail.com
* Business Type: Independent Driving Instructor
2. How We Use and Process Your Data
We do not use automated software to process or scan your enquiry. Your data follows a strict manual process:
* Initial Enquiry: Your details are sent directly to us
* Manual Review: We manually open the email or message to check driving lesson availability and reply directly to your request.
* If You Do Not Book: If you decide not to proceed with us, your enquiry and all associated details are deleted within 30 days.
* If You Confirm a Booking: If you agree to book driving lessons, your details are then manually copied and entered into Total Drive, our secure pupil management software, to track your progress, schedule slots, and send lesson updates.
3. How We Communicate With You (Third-Party Processors)
We collect personal data (such as your name, phone number, address, email address and message content) when you contact us or when we coordinate your driving lessons. We use the following channels:
*Email (Gmail): To send and receive correspondence regarding your booking request via direct email or web enquiries through our website
*Whatsapp and Facebook Messenger: To receive and send correspondence regarding your booking request.
*Text Messages and Voice calls: To receive and discuss correspondence regarding your booking request.
*Whatsapp or Text Messaging: To send lesson reminders, links to important information and training materials.
*Total Drive: If you officially become a pupil, your contact details and progress metrics are stored securely within the Total Drive platform.
*Your Instructor: Because the owner is the sole instructor, your information is never handed off or distributed to third-party franchise instructors or external companies (unless upon your written request).
Legal Basis for Processing Your Information:
Under UK GDPR, we process your enquiry form data under the legal basis of Performance of a Contract(taking necessary steps at your request before entering into an agreement for driving lessons).
Retention:
Enquiry Only: Data from potential pupils who do not book is wiped within 30 days.
Active Pupils: Data for active pupils inside Total Drive is kept for the duration of your training and up to 1 year after last lesson or test.
Passed Pupils: Following your practical driving test pass, tax regulations and insurance guidelines require us to keep financial transaction logs and basic booking records for a minimum of 6 years.
4.Payments via Bank Transfer
We accept payments via direct bank transfer.
Data Involved: When you transfer funds to our account, your name and any reference you provide will appear on our business bank statements. We do not request, see, or store your private bank account number or sort code.
Purpose and Lawful Basis: We process your name and payment details under the lawful basis of “performance of a contract” to verify that your lessons are paid for and to manage your booking balance.
Retention: Under UK tax law (HMRC) we are legally required to keep business banking records and income statements for a minimum period of 6 years. Your name will remain on these financial records for that duration.
5. In-Vehicle CCTV (Dashcam) Recording
For safety, insurance and fraud prevention, our training vehicles are equipped with outward facing dashcams.
Video Recording: The camera records external video footage of the road ahead. This captures public personal data such as pedestrians' faces and third-party vehicle registration numbers. It does not record video inside the cabin.
Lawful Basis: We process this data under the lawful basis of "Legitimate Interests" for road safety, fraud prevention, and insurance claims.
Retention: Video footage is stored securely on encrypted devices and is automatically overwritten after approximately 5 hours unless required for an active insurance claim or legal investigation.
6. Your Legal Rights Under UK GDPR
As a UK resident, you have full control over your digital records. You have the right to:
Access a copy of the personal records we hold about you.
Rectify or correct any wrong information (such as an incorrect phone number).
Erase your personal data from our systems (the "right to be forgotten"), provided it does not conflict with our tax tracking obligations.
Withdraw Consent at any stage if you no longer wish to hear from us.
To make a data request, simply send an email directly to our Gmail address listed above. If you feel your data has been handled incorrectly, you have the right to lodge a formal complaint with the Information Commissioners Office(ICO) at https://ico.org.uk.
This privacy notice is written clearly to reflect true operational data workflows.