Showing films at school- what rating?

[mantaray]

Are schools allowed to show PG films? DD is at a primary school, last week the school watched a film which was rated PG. Am I right in thinking that only U-rated films can be shown in school? We were not informed of the choice of film. DD lasted 20minutes before needing to be removed from the hall as she frightened, she was closely followed by several classmates.
I don't mind them watching a movie at all, I'm just a little at the choice.

[deaddei]

What film was it?

[badgerhead]

What age is your dd/ PG films can generally be viewed by children aged 8 or older but would still like to know what is being shown in advance in case there are this sort of reaction.12's etc are shown only to year 8 upwards & 15's to year 11.

[paisleyleaf]

I'm also wondering how old you DD is and what the film was.
But if several children left, it does sound as though the school have messed up.

[mantaray]

My DD is in the infants, several of the nursery kids also left with her and some of her friends. Am I right in thinking, before I write a letter, than PG films should not be shown to kids under 8?

[deaddei]

And why are they showing films at all in November- last week of term by all means.

[sarararararah]

Yes, only U films can be shown at school without permission from parents. Sometimes this is a little silly, as I have had to get permission for Y2/3 children to watch the snowman - it is a pg. But more modern pg films can often be really quite scary.

[Goblinchild]

Only U classification at all the schools I've taught at, if I wanted a PG, I'd have to send out permission slips and get them signed before anything happened.

[Hulababy]

What film was it and why were they watching it?

If at primary school I would say that nothing beyond a U should be shown without prior permission from parents.

With regards the showing of films...

I have no problems with them showing films in schools for various reasons. In this dreadful weather I know some schools may resort to the odd film during wet playtimes, to have a break from the classroom.

Or the child might watch a film as part of their learning/topic work. For example we shown our children The Snowman last week - it is our story for this term, and the children are ding a lot of work based around the story and general theme in all areas f the curriculum.

[Hulababy]

Golbinchild - I thought the Snowman was a U. Have just checked on Amazon and you are right - it is a PG. The teachers showed it to all our Y1s last week, and I am sure they did not get parental permission. Eeek. None of our children seemed to mind fortunately, and it is very gentle. Bet it never crossed their minds, oops.

[Hulababy]

Meant sarararararah, not goblinchild. Sorry.

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

We have U until Year 6, then PG by permission only. There are very few U films and by Year 6 they are quite frantic for something a bit more entertaining.

[wasuup3000]

Our 10 year old daughter watched Twilight at school a few weeks ago. It is a 12 rating I wasn't aware that the school should have asked parental permission.

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

WASUUP - that's really inappropriate, it is a 12 for a reason. My DS is 10 and he would be scared for sure, plus there is waaaaay to much girl&boy stuff like snogging

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

What I mean is re the snogging.. he would find that as horrifying as being chased by vampires etc!! So generally a v scary film for him!!

[sarararararah]

Yes, The Snowman is a pg as it is such an old film I guess. Our threshold for scariness has altered over time I think!

[wasuup3000]

Yes she was scared-Do you think I should complain about it?

[wasuup3000]

Turns out she watched another fim on Wednesday "a girl one which had lots of swearing in it, about a person who jumped of a cliff into a sea and she got sent to boarding school in England, then she tries to get expelled, then she liked the school, then she started a fire then puts it out, then someone else atarts the fire and the girl at 1st got the blame for it, then the other person got found out for doing it, the end".
Thats how she describes it she can't remember what it is called.

[wasuup3000]

Just googled its Wild child classification 12 year 5s and 6s girls watched it and the boys watched Wolverine classification 12A for years 5 and 6

[wasuup3000]

This is what the BFI say on the subject:

Am I allowed to show Certificate 18/15/12 material to underage pupils/students?

The certification of videos by the British Board of Film Classification does have legal force but applies only to video stores selling or renting videos to under-age kids. The cinema certification has an advisory function only, which simply allows local authorities to refuse to licence cinemas in breach of the certification guidance, should they wish to do so.
Thus, neither form of BBFC certification applies to school usage. Given that you are in loco parentis you would be within your rights to choose whatever you want to show to your pupils. If 16 or 17 year old pupils needs to see an '18' rated film, for example, for educational purposes, it would be sensible to make arrangements for them to be shown the film in a classroom setting (ie. as opposed to supplying them with a tape or disc to take home), and to obtain parental consent. You should explain clearly what you are showing and why, and make clear the terms of the BBFC certification.

www.bfi.org.uk/education/about/faqs.html#ans002

[wasuup3000]

Thanks. I am struggling to see any educational value in the content of any of those films

[rosieroseanna]

I'm a primary school teacher and would never shoe a PG without permission, it isn't allowed. However or visual literacy I have used Harry Potter etc which are over U but just show parts. If it was just a clip for a lesson thats ok.

[wasuup3000]

It was whole films not clips. Do Schools have their own policies on this?

[rosieroseanna]

No, they shouldn't have shown it.