regarding school's photo/social media policy?

[Songofsixpence]

DD's primary school had a policy of no sharing photos that have other children in, taken at school events to be posted on FB.

That's fine, never have and never would.

However, a few weeks ago I posted a pic of my own DD on FB and I had my knuckles rapped. The pic was taken on a public beach, on the way home from school of DD in her school uniform.

One of my friends is a TA so I'm assuming she's reported it to the head teacher as I was contacted and asked to take the picture down as it broke school's Facebook policy. I asked for it to be clarified as the pic wasn't on school property, had no other children in it other than my own DD and was told that DD was wearing her school uniform so it was considered as being taken on school property.

I removed the picture as I really wasn't that bothered. It was all a bit something and nothing really and I wasn't going to make a fuss about a picture on FB.

I've checked and double checked my privacy settings which were all fine, which is why I'm assuming it came about due to TA friend.

Anyway, I was just looking at the school's FB page (not a closed group or anything, just a totally open page that you can like and anyone can view) and there are loads of pics of my daughter from where she took part in a school event last week.

Now, I don't mind them posting pics of my daughter, but AIBU to think its a bit rich of them to dictate to me that I can't post a pic of my own daughter on my own private FB page when they're posting pics of her on their totally open, public page.

Obviously they're only posting pictures of children where parents have signed to say it's OK. There are children at the school who, for various reasons, can't be photographed. I know this and I totally understand it and I never would, and never have, post pictures of other children, but a picture of my own child?

They have absolutely no right to dictate what you can post on your own Facebook about you own child

Its hypocritical of them to stop parents posting group pictures on FB, then do it them selves.

We have a to sign to say we wont post on FB (twice today as there were two different things on in school) but I can guarantee some will ignore it

School has massively overstepped it's authority here. I'd put the picture back up and unfriend the TA.

What did the school say?

I'd be tempted to put it back up on FB with one of those blurry, mosaic bits covering up the school logo

I'd be tempted to put it back up on FB with one of those blurry, mosaic bits covering up the school logo

I'd be tempted to put it back up with the school logo enlarged, a photoshopped spliff in one hand and a bottle of JD in the other

Haha CrystalHaze!

That's mental. Also totally contradictory.

We have a 2 stage opt in plan. Stage 1 opts in to internal photos (school noticeboards and class twitter. Each class has 1 private twitter account, parents are verified and end of each year it's wiped and starts again with a new class) then stage 2 is external opt in (public twitter, school prospectus etc)

I've never heard of not being able to post a pic of your kid in uniform. If they were doing something they shouldn't be I could maybe understand it as rep of the school (our school likes to tell the kids you wear the uniform you represent the school) but just playing?

I just wish our school would stick to its own policies (on photographs and pretty much everything else), but apparently(according to the secretary) it doesn't matter what the policy says, the school can do what it likes. Pull them up on it. Some of these head teachers think they rule the world, not just the school they work in. (Ours particularly thinks she is God and im quite glad she is leaving at the end of the week)

Agree, school are being totally rediculous and I would be asking for clarification on exactly why! What will they do if you ignore them. The world has gone mad!

This is ridiculous. I would be tempted to pull them up on it, perhaps in a jokey way noting that you did consider the policy but were aware that (even if it applied) consent had been given to the publication of photos of your DD (and is clear form her appearance on the school website)!

Tell 'em to sod off to the far side of sod off, then when they get there sod off some more.

It's more than "a bit rich", it's hypocritical and absurd. There is no way that a beach becomes school property just because a child wearing the school's uniform stands on it. Mind you, if schools could acquire extra land that easily it would solve the school places shortage at a stroke ...

You are perfectly entitled to do what you like with pictures of your child wearing the uniform that you paid for. And if they're bleating about safeguarding, they really need to justify putting pictures of any school pupil up on their FB page, with or without permission. If a picture of your child is perfectly safe on their page, then it is safe on yours.

This has caught my eye. My dc's teacher put up a photo of children from school on her own FB timeline. They were doing an activity while on a residential. She put a caption relating to an 18 certificate horror film (I haven't seen the film and cannot bring myself to repeat it here- its vile and has a sadistic sexual slant). HT is good actually and got the teacher to take it down but I just cannot get it out of my head and don't want the teacher anywhere near my child.

Anyway- yes OP this is a bit mad. There are reasons why photos of your child in uniform are not advisable but we live with risk and it is no more risky than the school doing it. Put it back up if you want to!

This really gives me the irates.

I have defriended the snitches and I post whatever the fuck I want on Facebook.

Our head is so thick she can't even articulately explain why it is a safeguarding risk, and until she can, I'll do whatever the fuck I like.

That felt good.

If a picture of your child is perfectly safe on their page, it is safe on yours
This is what you should say to the head. Keep the photo on your page as well.

Thanks all!

I went in this morning but there was such a massive queue in the office and I was running late so sent an email, and attached the photo in question asking for clarification of their social media policy and where a picture of my own child on my own private Facebook account broke that policy, given they were posting pictures of her in her school uniform on their open Facebook page

All I got back was a load of guff about safeguarding (that some children have been adopted/fostered and can't be photographed), that parents have given permission for their children to appear on their social media accounts, blah, blah, blah.

They clearly have no idea what they're talking about so I shall just carry on regardless.

TA snitch-friend has been unfriended so bollocks to them

Surely you should complain to the head? Only for information so it won't happen again. This was an absurd situation and people do need to know the rules properly before they enforce them!

See, I get really pissed off when I receive a generic response to something specific I've raised. The tenacious part of me would be emailing straight back and insist they answer your question.

Yes, I'd be inclined to inform them that as your child hasn't been adopted an can be photographed, that you will be reinstating the picture of YOUR child on YOUR Facebook wall.

I am a headteacher. That is ridiculous. No reason at all why you can't post a photograph of your child in their school uniform on the beach. I would be inclined to ask them to show you the piece of safeguarding legislation which says that you can't. I'm sure that it doesn't exist.

I hate over controlling head teachers: it makes us all look like idiots.