While there is alot of emphasis on instructors attending seminars and renewals, I do wonder how often the CAA inspect PPL flying schools to check that training records are being maintained. The only instance I can ever remember the CAA inspecting training records was following a fatality of a PPL student on a solo flight.
In terms of the training records I have always had the policy of a 'need to know basis' in terms of access. This is similar to medical records. You should share the information with the student as well as other instructors.