Breach of Confidentiality by Head Teacher?

[CorduroyAngel]

I made a preliminary enquiry to a local church primary school ('school b') just around the corner from our primary school ('school a') and, on speaking to the head teacher there, I discovered that she had rung our school and told the headmistress that I (she used my full name) was thinking of moving our children to school B! Is it just me or does this come across as bragging/gossip, and am I right to feel annoyed? I was told "Oh, it's standard practice". Oh really? Does this not constitute a breach of my privacy? I had not made an application, nor even yet visited school b, so what possible valid reason can there have been for informing our current school?

[RedHelenB]

I don't see it as a confidentiality issue tbh. It is part of safeguarding that new schools contact old ones after all.

[DreamsTurnToGoldDust]

Headteachers do this as a courtesy for the other school, also (the HT doesnt know you) they want a heads up as to why a parent may be thinking of changing schools.

[prh47bridge]

Some head teachers do this. They should not. They have no idea what your relationship with the current school is like. They may be making a difficult situation much worse.

Your reasons for wanting to change schools are irrelevant unless you end up appealing for a place. You cannot be refused a place because the new school doesn't like your reasons for changing.

Once you have applied for and accepted a place at the new school they must contact the existing school and get all the information they hold on the child but not before. It could be argued that the head making contact at this stage is a breach of the Admissions Code in that it may give them access to information they are not permitted to have until after your application is processed and you have accepted the offer of a place.

Those LAs that insist you discuss the matter with the current school and get their agreement before applying for a transfer are definitely in breach of the Admissions Code. Unfortunately there are still a few LAs that try to do this. Indeed, some insist that the original school signs the application form - a clear breach of the Code.

[CorduroyAngel]

Thank you all... I thought it was rather impolite to contact the current school without even telling me that they were going to do so. After meeting her today and telling her I was not at all happy with what she had done she said she need not have told me that she had rung them. I clearly should not have trusted her with my name and current school details until I had decided whether to apply :o/