Is this not bizarre mum behaviour?

That message is perfectly reasonable but not everybody will take it in the right spirit. If you say something like that, be prepared for any amount of feathers being ruffled and 'Who made you boss of WhatsApp' comments.

In most WhatsApp groups there always seems to be someone who posts endless gifs, avatars, pics of their DC, DGC, dogs, holidays and whatnot. Nobody dares say anything because of the above. It is frustrating, but if the poster uses what's really an admin group as part of their socials, all you can hope for is mass, consistent non-engagement with the off-topic stuff and hope the message gets through. Good luck!

I think it’s overdoing it to say she’s creepy etc, I’ve taken photos at school events/days out really quickly because I wanted some picture and they probably looked weird- a pic of the kids in the distance getting on the school bus or having lunch. I didn’t share them but maybe she thinks she’s helping. If it bugs you so much just get an admin to post: just a reminder that the WhatsApp group is for everyday school issues only such as reminders of school events, homework, lost items etc.

Agree with people that she sounds lonely or may actually have ‘nothing better to do with her time’ (a phrase I hate!!)

We recently had someone post pictures of children (causing a minor nuisance in our area) on our village facebook group. These photos indicated that the children were local, giving away the village that they live in. If the child was fleeing domestic violence or adopted for example, this could have put them in danger.

Personally I'd be tempted to follow up their next post with one of the North Pole or Mars and a similar message "Me and DD just hopped on a shuttle to the red planet, she wanted all her little friends to know she's dying of oxygen starvation!"

But then I'm a little shit.

The photographing from a distance is super odd op! The first bit although annoying is somewhat harmless really but id be unimpressed with the weird following kids around bit to take photos!

I think she might be a little lonely. Not everyone has loving family they can send pics of their DC to and get “ohh, ahh” type responses do many she’s looking for connection? I don’t look at it as a stealth boast. I kind of feel sorry for her. How do people respond when she posts?

In what way, if they're not indecent images?

List of upcoming birthday parties? That's nothing to do with school either and weird - not all kids are invited to all parties!
She must think as class rep she's kinda 'in charge' of the WhatsApp. And like many can't help but overexpose her child. As the group is closed (it's just for the year right?) I'm not sure posts of photos of the class trip is breaking any rules, unless some parents have requested no pics of their kids (we had to fill in a form)?
But yes annoying and inappropriate.

You can take photos in a public place but then sharing them without consent, especially images of children, can fall under data privacy laws

It’s a safeguarding issue for following the school trips and taking random photos. Inform the school this is what is happening. Tell them to keep you confidential as the informant.

Announcement groups and then chat groups. Everyone in announcements with only one or two admins and everyone who wants can chat in the chat groups

There is no law against taking photos of other people's children in a public place, makes no difference if you're a man or woman. There's also no law against 'happening' to be where your child's school trip goes even if it is odd behaviour.

Sounds like this mum's world revolves around her child. I'm assuming she set up the group though if she's the one running and organising it so it's really a case of put up with it or leave. No one is forcing you to be in the group if it's too annoying.

I think two WhatsApp groups should be suggested, one for strictly admin and info other for idle chit chat, when the other lady said she had lost info amongst the other messages would have been perfect timing for such a suggestion. Then you can just mute the chit chat one and ignore it.

I have been in a WhatsApp group that contained random things job adverts and someone’s own holiday pictures. It’s annoying because when you want to find out something important that the group is for like dates of meetings/activities you have to trail through lots of irrelevant stuff.

It is definitely weird behaviour even if she is a bored SAHM as some people have presumed. Doesn’t make it less weird.

do your school have Seesaw or a similar app where the kids can send in photos of their weekend or achievements to share with the class? If it happened on our class WhatsApp all the time I would be directing the mum to the app (in a nice way) so all Xs friends can still have the joy of seeing what X has been up to.

the lingering around school trips is just bizarre. And then taking photos from far away. Odd

Please don’t throw about neurodiverse labels for someone who is clearly breaking safeguarding standards.

She sounds like she has issues but it’s a massive leap to saying ND.

This needs to be dealt with by the school. It’s stalking behaviour.

you should contact the school about the stalking school trips and photographing other people’s children whilst on school trip. That’s borderline psycho behaviour. Some of those kids might be in the care system, but even if not that’s a massive safeguarding red flag.

The only parent in our class that I've come across posting photos from school events (Nativity, sports day etc) is a TA in the local special school and definitely should know better.

Fortunately, one of the mums in our class is also a teacher at the school which I'm guessing is one of the reasons our group chat stays so pleasant and useful. I get the impression that the group chats for parties that don't include her DC (we're at the all the boys or all the girls stage) are a bit critical of the teacher which is a shame.

Exactly! My adopted DS had child protection issues and we had a blanket "no photos" policy with school.

I would have hit the roof if DS had appeared in one of these photos.

The other stuff, just ignore. But taking photos from afar of school trips is not acceptable. She couldn't photo kids inside the school. I would be waving my phone under the nose of the HT / SGL and requesting they tell her to stop.

Imagine if this was aman taking photos to f the school group??? There'd be uproar!

I'd be reporting her to the school tbh

on one if my other kids groups, one of the mums keeps posting about Free Palestine protests. It’s awkward as there are a couple of Jewish children in the class and also I don’t want to see political posts in between reminders of non uniform and sports day cake requests.

Same, and on the whole they are life savers! Reminders about non uniform etc. there was someone who started slagging off the school , but that was quickly stopped!

There is always one op in every group that overshares personal stuff that no one is interested in.

It is weird, I feel sorry for them. Who has the time to follow school trips in the background, does she not have other stuff on!! It's also not ok to take photos of other peoples kids. I think you could either be gentle, message her and say the school are after trip volunteers and maybe she'd be a good fit but they definitely will not allow her to take photos if she's a helper and maybe that advice will stay with her, or you could just be quite robust and message saying you don't want pictures of your child taken by other people, especially when it identifies the school too.
I agree with the "hi guys, can we keep posts focused on school activities/events so we don't lose track" it sounds like the other mums are on board given the last message.

I wonder if the mum is neurodiverse as she isn't getting the social cues when nobody replies/nobody does the same. If so, you might need to be very direct for her to understand the message clearly, as subtle hints might not land.

Very very annoying tone deaf behaviour.

When this happened on our school WhatsApp someone actually said please can we stick to school admin stuff and keep personal lives separate otherwise it’s bombarding parents with messages that aren’t relevant. It worked and everyone collectively sighed with relief. It’s irritating having other peoples minutiae cluttering up your own life.