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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this rule is strange.

35 replies

Summeblaze · 12/03/2015 10:45

My DD is having a whole class party for her birthday. One morning after sending her into school I thought I would get the ball rolling with organising it. I was in the office anyway so while I was there asked the receptionist if they had a list of the dc's in her class. She said she couldn't give it out as me as a parent could not know last names of children for data protection.

Now I was quite prepared for her to say they didn't or didn't have time to give me it but was just asking for ease whilst I was there. So was ok with her not giving me it.

Instead I asked DD who gave me a list of everyone in her class including last names. My DD and DS are one of 3 of the same name in their class and kids differentiate by last names as do the teachers. My DC's have their full name called out in the playground all if the time when other children see them.

AIBU to think that if this is really a data protection thing then they shouldn't use last names in school at all.

OP posts:
PaulaJane37 · 12/03/2015 10:48

I don't know if YABU, but this happened to me four years ago when DS was in P2. The teacher wrote the first name of the kids down for me and any with the same name got the initial of their surname written down. Odd really.

llamallamaredpyjama · 12/03/2015 10:50

Really?

Rules are rules. This is standard practice across the UK. Data protection is taken very seriously. Breaches in confidentiality can cost associated councils tens of thousands of pounds.

How would you prefer children to be identified if not using their second names? Numbers? Ellie 1, Ellie 2 and Elly 3?

It's frustating and it may not make any sense but it's just one of those things. So sorry but YABU.

CatsCantTwerk · 12/03/2015 10:51

Yabu.

ghostyslovesheep · 12/03/2015 10:52

YABU it's the act of the school handing over data that's the issue - not knowing the names

they school could get in trouble - your child wont if she tells you the names

BubblesInMyBath · 12/03/2015 10:53

YABU

Your DC don't work for the school therefore the data protection act doesn't apply to them needing to use it.

The staff however, must work in line with the act which means only sharing information for the purpose to which it was given/intended for.

molyholy · 12/03/2015 10:56

When my dd started in reception, we were given a list (from reception teacher) of everyones name in her class along with a little photocopied pic on a separate sheet. They said it was to make it easier for parties, christmas cards etc. It has been really useful. DD is in Yr 1 now and I still use that list.

Splodgeses · 12/03/2015 10:56

You could have asked for the first names only when they refused last names.

I find it odd though, as DD brings home a list of names (first AND last) at christmas, for the ease of writing the dreaded festive cards.

llamallamaredpyjama · 12/03/2015 10:59

Molyholy.

Gosh, I find that staggering!! I can't imagine sending out pictures of children to other parents. Did they get consent first? While it must be helpful, I'd be annoyed at the distrubtion of an image of my child without my prior consent (even though I know I don't have rights on the image)

BubblesInMyBath · 12/03/2015 11:04

I'd be livid at school sending out a photo of my child for the purpose of making parties easier

Unless... I had signed anything when enrolling to say I understood and agreed to the school doing this.

Otherwise I think it breaches - only using the information for its intended purpose

Original poster
Summeblaze · 12/03/2015 11:05

I get data protection in the sense of not giving sensitive information out but this isn't sensitive information as it is given out to the children throughout the day. The teachers actually call their names so not just the DC's offering their own info.

Also we have a newsletter which goes out weekly and if a child has won an award etc then their full name is put in that.

OP posts:
BubblesInMyBath · 12/03/2015 11:07

Yes but calling their names - is using it for the intended purpose (teaching/supervising)

Giving it out for a party list - isn't.

MaxPepsi · 12/03/2015 11:09

Has the data protection act changed then recently because your name is just that, a name and is not sensitive information if you use it all the time?

Giving out a persons name in this instance can not be breaching the data protection. Giving out their DOB, address, race, religion, etc etc is breaching it as that is information that you do not need to know.

I've seen plenty of school newsletters which lists the names of pupils so how is that different?

BubblesInMyBath · 12/03/2015 11:11

I don't think it's that the name is sensetive information, I think it's that ANY info can only be used for the purpose to which it was given?

sunshine7981 · 12/03/2015 11:12

The school should not be giving out class lists. At my school we got round this my the school sending an email saying if you are happy to have your details on a class spreadsheet then to reply by email to class rep. Nearly everyone did so we now have a near complete class list

ghostyslovesheep · 12/03/2015 11:12

yes but Data protection doesn't JUST cover sensitive info it covers ANY info held about you by an organisation

Teacher have a reasonable need to access that info to do their job

there is no justification to give it to YOU so they can't

maybe read up on the DP Act? it might explain the reasons better

molyholy · 12/03/2015 11:12

Tbh - I didn't think anything of it. I must have signed something saying we were okay with this, although I don't recall anything specific. I have no qualms about any of the parents from my dd's year in school knowing her full name and having a pic to associate a name to a face - especially when starting a new school. I just thought it was really useful and am not aware of any of the other parents objecting.

ghostyslovesheep · 12/03/2015 11:14

I right reports that are presented at SS reviews and SEND meetings - I can NOT present them without explicit written permission from the client - regardless of their importance - this is DP

similarly I can't answer questions to other people such as 'is X still at Y college?' because they have no need to KNOW

it's not the schools place to give you access to names

Penguinsaresmall · 12/03/2015 11:15

Hmm didn't know that was a 'thing' - DCs school has been giving out lists of full names for Christmas Cards for years Confused

ObsidianEagle · 12/03/2015 11:16

yanbu, my kids school hand out the list of class names every year for christmas card purposes!

BubblesInMyBath · 12/03/2015 11:16

I would imagine that the schools that do give out lists probably have something in their enrolment forms that gives them permission to do so. It's a fairly easy way round it if they do as then they're still using the info to the purpose for which it was shared

MrsDeVere · 12/03/2015 11:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Summeblaze · 12/03/2015 11:20

Ok. I wasn't actually bothered but just thought it was an odd.

So what about newsletters having full names in them.

OP posts:
AuntieStella · 12/03/2015 11:20

Our school does not give out lists of names.

You can get them instead via the PTA, because it asks at the start of each school year for parents to sign up to be in a shared directory.

BubblesInMyBath · 12/03/2015 11:23

Newsletters are still using info for the purpose it was given - for the school

I'm one of the posters who said I would be upset about photos - but not because I think it places my son at risk, but because I didn't share info or give permission for my sons info to the school to be used to help make parties easier for people.

Original poster
Summeblaze · 12/03/2015 11:24

Incidentally I am the chair of our PTA and work at the school at lunchtimes. We did sign something at some point to see if we would allow pics on website etc etc

OP posts: