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AIBU?

To be upset that school gave newspaper my dd's address?

96 replies

browneyedone · 12/04/2016 15:52

My dd (15) has had recent sportig success outside of school in and the school wanted to be kept informed. After I told them the results from the last competition the school stated they were going to pass it on to the local newspaper. So far OK, but what I wasn't expecting was for them to pass on the name of the road we live on (which is a cul-de-sac and amounts to a dozen houses) and for this to be published in the article. AIBU to think this is irresponsible of the school and the newspaper?

OP posts:

Report

RiverTam · 12/04/2016 15:53

Definitely of the school! FFS, what were they thinking?!

LagunaBubbles · 12/04/2016 15:54

What did they say when you complained?

hesterton · 12/04/2016 15:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

allegretto · 12/04/2016 15:56

I think it is pretty normal for local newspapers to include street names and they are easy enough to find out without the school passing it on.

99percentchocolate · 12/04/2016 15:58

I would confirm with the newspaper how they got your address and yes, if it came from the school I would definitely submit a formal complaint to Ofsted under safeguarding issues.

browneyedone · 12/04/2016 15:58

River - That it's standard procedure. The newspaper always asks for a road so they provide one as standard. Been doing it for years...www.mumsnet.com/emo/te/9.gif.pagespeed.ce.TUei7x3YMQ.gif
They have apologised but state that it didn't occur to them that there would only be a small number of houses on the road and that it might be an issue.

OP posts:

99percentchocolate · 12/04/2016 15:59

And actually. I would be complaining to the newspaper for printing the address of a minor alongside their full name and presumably photo.

browneyedone · 12/04/2016 16:01

Definitely the school. Newspaper confirmed and school admitted it. Hesterton does 192 not only provide those on electoral role?

OP posts:

Oooblimey · 12/04/2016 16:07

I'd be fuming! I work in a profession where I really don't want the general public to know where I live. Word gets round school that child's parent is a cop, random child from dodgy family mentions to dodgy uncle that the kid in the article goes to their school and their parent is a cop... Not good.

browneyedone · 12/04/2016 16:09

Have had apologies from both parties and they have both said it won't happen again (but only for my dd). They both made it sound such a non issue - so mater of fact and everyday, that I was starting to wonder if I was over-reacting.

OP posts:

browneyedone · 12/04/2016 16:09

Have had apologies from both parties and they have both said it won't happen again (but only for my dd). They both made it sound such a non issue - so mater of fact and everyday, that I was starting to wonder if I was over-reacting.

OP posts:

Potterwolfie · 12/04/2016 16:14

When I worked on newspapers, our editorial policy stipulated that we wouldn't use a road name in any context for under 16s.

99percentchocolate · 12/04/2016 16:15

Definitely not an over reaction! Seriously, I would be asking Ofsted to investigate.

MeDownSouth · 12/04/2016 16:15

Oh this is such a safeguarding issue! In all of my roles that have involved children and media you are NEVER allowed to give identifying info into the media domain! ie. first name only, especially if they are in uniform or there is something else that can identify them! Only the parents can give this information! And having been in the same situation as Oohblimey (parent in sensitive job) I'm glad it exists!

StrangeIdeas · 12/04/2016 16:20

I don't think you're over reacting at all. I would hate for that to happen too, and I'm not in a situation that would make it dangerous! The newspaper should not be printing the details of a minor, it may be common practice to print the name of the road - but not for a minor surely

99percentchocolate · 12/04/2016 16:20

[https://www.ipso.co.uk/IPSO/index.html IPSO press complaints]]

99percentchocolate · 12/04/2016 16:21

Sorry - ipso

Birdsgottafly · 12/04/2016 16:23

It is a Safegaurding issue and I'd take it to the Head.

They've also made a mockery of the LAs Internet policy and the 'safety online' that they reach the pupils.

The Newspapers policy should be that they don't identify the road/street, for a under 18, as said.

Birdsgottafly · 12/04/2016 16:23

Teach, not reach.

bigbluebus · 12/04/2016 16:32

Where I live they wouldn't even need to give the road name. I live in a village and have an unusual surname for these parts so my children would be easily traceable. In fact a neighbour who has recently taken up a high profile job was bemoaning the fact that a newspaper article about him had named the village where he lived - as his car carries the logo of the organisation he works for, so it wouldn't take a genius to track him down.
No way should papers be publishing such identifying information.

LauraChant · 12/04/2016 16:42

I was in a newspaper article when I was 13 or so, in my Guide uniform, and it gave my road name and my surname. A few weeks later I got an obscene phone call, they asked for me by name. It might not have been related to the article of course.

I don't mean to scare you OP, just to highlight that it absolutely is a safeguarding issue and they shouldn't do it. My road wasn't a tiny one, but I guess we were the only ones with that surname and everyone was in the phonebook back then.

scarlets · 12/04/2016 16:42

I've often thought this at GCSE time, when the local rags publish photos of beautiful 15-16 year old girls (and they do always pick the photogenic ones) with the story that "Jane Bloggs of West Street got 10 A*s as did her best friend Jenny Smith of Victoria Road" or whatever. Why the public needs to know exactly where they live, I don't know.

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Mishaps · 12/04/2016 16:46

I would write to the chair of governors. The school should have consulted you about this first, especially as the event was not even school-related. I am a school governor and would be disciplining any member of staff who gave out such information.

AskingForAPal · 12/04/2016 16:47

This is really wrong and a child protection issue. If they've printed your child's full name, school, address and presumably the team she plays for, they've basically told anyone reading exactly where she is practically any hour of the day or night - it's wrong. In our work's child protection training they call this "jigsaw identification" because all the bits together basically give you a full picture.

I would find out who your local paper's parent company is, and see what their child protection policy is. I would also talk to the local authority. It's just stupid of them, I'm sure they don't mean any harm, but it's stupid.

Brightbluebells · 12/04/2016 16:48

Ofsted will not investigate. If you have an issue with the school then you need to follow the school's Complaints Policy a copy of which should be on their website. I would check first though that it was someone at the school who released the information.

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