The Summer SAR Surge: AI-Generated Requests, FOIs and Staying Compliant When School's Out

Summer holidays don’t pause statutory deadlines, and for many schools, requests increase just as capacity drops.

A 2025 Parentkind report estimates over five million formal complaints were made by parents about schools across the UK last year - with many escalating into Subject Access Requests (SARs) and Freedom of Information (FOI) requests. Alongside this, schools are increasingly encountering AI-generated SARs, which are often more complex, broader in scope, and higher in volume than traditional requests — creating new challenges for already stretched teams.

As the academic year ends, leaders must balance end-of-term pressures, reduced staffing, and preparations for the new school year, while continuing to meet strict legal obligations. Requests cannot be delayed due to closure periods, and inconsistent or unclear handling can quickly increase compliance, safeguarding, and reputational risks.

This webinar will focus on practical planning and best practice, helping your school or trust stay compliant before and during the summer holidays. We’ll explore how to maintain consistency, strengthen accountability, and manage requests effectively, even with reduced capacity.

This session will cover:

• What is the different between a SAR and an FOI request, including timescales for each type of request
• What the school should do during closure periods and how to be transparent with requesters prior to this period
• Increase in AI-generated SARs and summer holidays
• Factors to consider for any potential extensions on SARs
• Having a clear updated complaints process since the implementation of the Data Use and Access Act 2025

Let us introduce you to this week's professional speaker

Samira Awadalla

Samira has a background in law, which underpins her approach to data protection. She has built extensive experience across the charity and healthcare sectors, where her work has focused on supporting organisations working with children and vulnerable individuals. Her commitment to this work led her to the education sector, where she continues to specialise in data protection, ensuring that sensitive information is handled with care and integrity.