Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin has issued an apology after accidentally circulating sensitive evaluations of students for a mentorship programme.
A school in Dublin has issued an apology following an incident where a list of senior cycle students, along with evaluations regarding their suitability for an upcoming mentorship programme, was mistakenly circulated within the school community. The incident took place at Mount Temple Comprehensive School, located in Clontarf, and affected dozens of students.
The alert was raised when the list was shared via Google Classroom, the platform utilised by students and educators for communication. The mentorship programme is slated to commence in the academic year 2025/2026.
In correspondence sent to parents and guardians on Friday, shortly after the incident, Mount Temple acknowledged the distress caused by the language used in the evaluations. The school stated, “We are really sorry that this happened and wish to apologise to any students, parents, and guardians who have been directly affected by this.” The institution has offered to meet with families impacted by the incident.
Mount Temple confirmed that it had experienced a data breach and recognised that some personal information relating to students may have been compromised. An internal investigation has been initiated to assess the “full scope” of this breach.
The evaluations included brief comments on the students’ suitability for the mentorship roles, which ranged from specific personal remarks to general statements such as “absolutely not” or “a gut feeling,” the rationale for which was not elaborated upon.
In its letter to the school community, Mount Temple expressed understanding of the distress caused by the shared information, stating, “We also understand that some of the material involved in this breach contained language that has caused significant upset.” The school reiterated its commitment to rectify the situation, ensuring that measures are put in place to prevent future occurrences.
It further detailed that they are currently “working with professionals to investigate the incident thoroughly” and will communicate findings regarding the data that may have been affected, as well as the necessary steps for parents to take following the completion of the investigation. Mount Temple emphasised the importance of student privacy and stated that it takes such matters seriously.
The school has committed to transparency throughout the investigative process and promised to keep parents informed of developments. As a notable institution, Mount Temple Comprehensive School has a history of producing influential alumni, including members of the rock band U2.
The Journal has reached out to the school for further comments on the situation, as well as inquiring whether the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner is currently undertaking an investigation into the event.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://mounttemple.ie – This URL provides information about Mount Temple Comprehensive School, confirming its location and educational ethos. It is a co-educational school in Dublin known for its diverse traditions and inclusivity.
- https://www.garrettphelan.com/FREE-THOUGHT-FM.pdf – This URL offers context about educational discussions and events in Dublin, highlighting various educational topics, although it does not specifically address the incident at Mount Temple.
- https://adlnet.gov/assets/uploads/Modernizing%20Learning.pdf – This URL discusses modernizing learning but does not directly relate to the incident at Mount Temple. However, it provides general insights into educational technology and concerns, which could be relevant to how schools manage digital platforms like Google Classroom.
- https://support.google.com/edu/answer/7062336 – This URL provides information on how Google Classroom works and its role in educational settings, which is relevant to the platform used for sharing the list of students.
- https://dataprotection.ie/en – This URL pertains to Ireland’s Data Protection Commission, which might be involved in investigating data breaches like the one described at Mount Temple.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative mentions upcoming events in the academic year 2025/2026, suggesting that the information is current.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
Direct quotes are present but lack specific online references. However, they appear to be part of original correspondence specific to the incident.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
Although the origin of the narrative is not explicitly specified, it appears to be from a reputable or local news source, possibly ‘The Journal’.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The incident described is plausible given the context and similar past data breaches or mishandlings in educational settings.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative seems fresh and plausible, with clear, contextual information provided. The quotes appear original, and while the exact source isn’t specified, it aligns with the style of reputable reporting.
