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Original poster

Furious With School

74 replies

littlemissmoomoo · 22/06/2019 02:22

My children's school asks for a contribution of £10 per half term per child. This is fine. I have 2 at the school, 2 others have been there and 2 more who will be going when they are old enough. I've always paid, sometimes I'll pay a little more if I can afford it.

I've just read this weeks newsletter and they have NAMED every single child who's parents are yet to contribute this half term. My children are on there. I gave birth 12 days ago. Before the birth, I was in hospital for 9 days. I was then in hospital for 3 days after the birth. My kids then all came down the sickness bug.

My kids aren't the only ones named, there are 17 names out of a school of around 80 kids. I'm absolutely furious, as I'm sure the other parents are, that we have been "named and shamed"!

OP posts:

feathermucker · 22/06/2019 06:51

Plus, I'm sure this goes against GDPR.

Sexnotgender · 22/06/2019 06:54

Firstly congratulations!!

Secondly that’s outrageous! That must be a breach of GDPR?

flumpybear · 22/06/2019 06:55

@littlemissmoomoo are you U.K. based?
It's outrageous and GDPR breach

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General education

sincethereis · 22/06/2019 06:57

unacceptable.

Please complain!

SnowsInWater · 22/06/2019 07:12

That is disgraceful. I would make a for a formal complaint and tell them they can stick their contribution where the sun doesn't shine from now on!

CuppaSarah · 22/06/2019 07:37

If there's a school Facebook pages could you ask if any other named and shamed parents would like to join you in your complaint about the GDPR breach and general shitty behaviour. I can't imagine you'll be the only horrified parent. Named or not I'd be complaining if my children's school did this.

MummBraTheEverLeaking · 22/06/2019 08:13

CF school! If there was ever a thread the press should pick up, it's this one! As pp said, socioeconomic bullying and a GDPR nightmare. The school should be named and shamed in the papers, see how they like it!!

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 22/06/2019 08:17

YANBU. Surely that breaches confidentiality.
£10 per half term is astronomical amount, especially if you e got more than one child and/or are on a tight budget.

ThePurpleHeffalump · 22/06/2019 08:21

Does sound more like a private school, all about the money and the rules are different. Complain, then set up a standing order.

Runningbackwards · 22/06/2019 08:23

Really do not think any school - state school or independent would do this.

Jinglejanglefish · 22/06/2019 08:32

That is really awful, surely this contribution is voluntary. They can't demand it.

Not sure how it's a GDPR breach though. At my school parents sign a consent form confirming they are happy for children's names and pictures to go in the newsletter, if they win a prize or go on a trip or something. I would think most schools do the same.

MistyMinge2 · 22/06/2019 08:36

I would be very unhappy with this. So basically they're calling it a contribution, but treating it like a compulsory fee. For families on a low Income and with multiple children that's quite a chunk of money to find. I'm happy to support my children's school, but if they went about it like this I'd be angry. I'd also want to know what the money was being spent on.

I bet you're not the only parent pissed off about this.

Also, this is unfair on the children who have no control on whether their parents pay or not, and potentially making them targets for bullying.

TheCanterburyWhales · 22/06/2019 08:36

A name published isn't in itself a breach of GDPR.

My dd's school asks for a "voluntary" contribution of £80 a year (state) You receive a letter from the school every so often but I'd go ape if names were published like that. (And I work in the same school)

Eaudear · 22/06/2019 08:37

Is this in the UK? Is it a state school? I can't believe any school would do this?

I'm not sure on the GDPR thing if you have singed a consent for child's name to appear, but surely it breaches some kind of privacy thing in that this is a private matter that has been broadcast?

I would email them and tell them you will no longer be contributing - they can't chuck you out the school!

Runningbackwards · 22/06/2019 08:43

Everyone is getting outraged about this. The OP hasn't been back since posting at 02.22.

fedup21 · 22/06/2019 08:46

Everyone is getting outraged about this. The OP hasn't been back since posting at 02.22.

I suppose she could have been asleep...?!

OP, is this a school in England? Is it an academy?

notapizzaeater · 22/06/2019 08:49

Is it a state school, academy ?

MistyMinge2 · 22/06/2019 08:53

@Runningbackwards and your point is?

The op said she has a newborn. I was always on mumsnet when doing night time feeds. Hopefully she's been getting some sleep since her last post.

QOFE · 22/06/2019 09:00

That's fucking appalling!

And I thought my DC's old primary was bad for reading out names of children who's parents hadn't paid "voluntary contributions" in assembly. But at least that didn't tell every other parent who was struggling, just the kids!

Kaddm · 22/06/2019 09:04

Is the school in the UK?

RockinHippy · 22/06/2019 09:25

Appalling & if you're in the UK I'd throw the book at them & demand an equally public apology & Retraction of the list as in error. Disgusting behave to you & how bad must the families feel who really can't pay🤬

Dontbestupidagain · 22/06/2019 09:38

This is disgusting.

Your school will have something called a "Charging and Remissions Policy". This will outline what they can and can't charge for. I would refer to this in communications. These are voluntary contributions. They are legally not allowed to charge you.
Also check your complaints policy and put in a formal complaint. It would be against the head and you will need to address to the Chair of Governors.

00100001 · 22/06/2019 09:49

It isn't a breach of GDPR. What makes PP Think that?

There's no confidential information, there's not two identifying pieces of information. A breach would be in this example. It's just a list of names that might as well have been the list of players in football team in terms of GDPR.

It's not on, for sure and considering the donation is likely voluntary it's crap to point out those that didn't pay.

Presumably this is the first time they've done this?

I can't imagine it's independent school, they'd just add it to the fees/bill.

SpinsterOfArts · 22/06/2019 10:05

This is horrendous. My brother's school did this years ago, only the other way around - listing the names of everyone who had paid. They got away with that as they said it was thanking them, although of course it was obvious that if the name of a friend wasn't on the list it meant they hadn't paid.

Your children's school is even worse. They absolutely should not publish lists like this. It's a voluntary contribution. Even if it weren't - sending the whole school a list of people behind on dinner money or who haven't paid for the school trip yet wouldn't be acceptable either.

The school isn't trying to improve its results by 'managing out' working-class children and/or those whose families aren't very supportive of education, is it?

Doryhunky · 22/06/2019 10:21

Gdpr is about personal data. This is data which identifies you and is not necessarily confidential. Publishing names like this is a breach of the principles of the data protection principles. You can only collect and use data for necessary purposes/legitimate reasons.

ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/principles/

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