· Digitisation and indexing where appropriate · Secure archival storage · Controlled access with audit trails · Managed response to authorised enquiries The SDS Custodianship Solution SDS provides a structured solution by acting as the independent custodian of the school’s historic records. Our services include secure collection of records, digitisation and indexing where appropriate, secure archival storage, and managed access requests should former pupils, regulators or legal representatives require documentation in future years. Appointing SDS ensures that important records are preserved responsibly, statutory and safeguarding obligations continue to be met, and legitimate enquiries can still be handled professionally without former officers needing to retain records or respond to enquiries personally many years later. Regulatory and Liquidation Points Administrators, liquidators, and governing bodies are often required to demonstrate that key documentation has either been retained appropriately or transferred to a responsible custodian before an organisation is formally dissolved. This is particularly relevant for organisations such as independent schools, where records may be required many years after closure for matters relating to: · safeguarding enquiries · former pupil claims / employment or pension verification · historic insurance liabilities Without an agreed custodianship arrangement, important records may be dispersed, destroyed prematurely, or left without a clear point of responsibility. Increasingly, organisations addressing closure therefore seek to ensure that a professional records custodian has been appointed to safeguard documentation that may still have legal, regulatory or historical significance. By establishing a formal custodianship arrangement with SDS, the school can demonstrate that: · records have been handled responsibly prior to dissolution · appropriate retention considerations have been applied · a professional organisation remains responsible for managing future enquiries This approach provides reassurance to all that the school’s historic records have been managed properly as part of the closure process.