Pissed off with teacher filming DD. What to do?

[AnInchWasPinched]

We signed a form last year stating photos were allowed but films were not unless prior agreement with us.

We did this because DS has SN and we didn't want potentially for his classmates to get hold of films used in class and spread them etc. There was no mention of what they would do with the films, when they would delete them, where they would be used, who would have access to them etc and when I queried it with the head, he'd not thought of this issue. We didn't do a blanket ban as DS has physical issues which make it hard for him to write so if they gave a choice between a video or poster presentation further up the school we didn't want him to not have a choice.

Felt we had to put the same for DD.

Last night, parents information evening. Two videos of DD shown.

We have had major issues with this teacher and the treatment of our DS. But I'm itching to say something because she got her DH to come in a photograph and video the kids for the day, but she's not allowed to video DD! DH reckons it will only antagonise her and you can't reason with people like her and it could affect how she treats DD. She would happily make a point of singling a child out rather than e.g. making her stand at the edge of the group and just not filming the children at the edge of the group.

I don't know what to do. I don't feel she should get away with it, what if she happens to film DS (fortunately no longer in her class) at some point too? On the other hand DH has a very valid point.

I have to say I think your caveat on the form is unworkable. It's not always planned in advance. You can't always be asked permission beforehand if it's videoing for teaching purposes.

Best to stick with a flat refusal.

Fair enough BBJ.

I agree with posters who say it needs to be investigated regardless, as although it could just be a genuine mistake, it could also be an indicator of systemic problems with processes or ethos..

Yes, that thing of it not being an outright NO, yet a staff member ticking the yes box because of it, is perfectly possible.

IMO if someone doesn't give an outright YES, then the assumption should be no, so the other box should be ticked (if it's all done by tick-boxes).

Why don't you want them to film your DD?

I would be more concerned about it being her dh ie not a member of school staff. Whose equipment did he use? Who and where was the editing done?

I have refused permission for dd to be videoed because she has ASD and I worry that she will be targeted. Like you photographs are open for discussion so what happens is if photographs are planned (trips and productions usually) school email me to ask for my thoughts and I give permission or not in that case but for spur of the moment photos in lessons dd isn't photographed. It works for us and school this way.
I would be really annoyed tbh,the teacher should have checked for permission first and I would raise it with the school and insist the video was either edited of deleted if editing wasn't possible.

On the bottom of a student SIMS page, we have the tick boxes for photo and video consent. You may well be able to log on from home to see exactly what is on there.

In my school, it is assumed that unless stated otherwise, we can film and photograph all students. We have to use school cameras/video recorder things and cannot use our phones. This is as other posters have said for safeguarding purposes. There are lists on our staff intranet of those who cannot be photographed or filmed and posters of these students in the staff room with their individual consents. If we do for example a group photo and one person within that group has not got consent, our IT people will pixellate the photo if it is being used outside the school network.

I agree that you need to have a calm chat with the Head. It may be that the teacher (and partner) was naive, but there is no excuse for this. Most reasonable Heads would absolutely want to know about mistakes like this so they can tighten their policies and ensure that all staff adhere to the rules. This is a good time of year to do it as new staff start.

If the teachers DH was with her, he doesn't need to be DBS checked, but it matters what device he filmed with. I don't know whether the 'rules' lie with filming - certainly not on ok a personal mobile, but other equipment I'm unsure.

On SIMS there is a yes/no tick box. No other options. But, it should really have been ticked as no if you had put terms on it. That's not the teachers fault though.

Our staff are really good at checking. That said, in our whole year 8 group (nearly 200 kids), every parent has given consent, so I think it is fairly unusual to say no.

Why would the staff tick a box? I filled out the form?
It seems workable for DS's teacher, on the one time she thought they might film, she called me to ask. The rest of the time, she just filmed the children who were allowed to be filmed.

We've also spoken to the head, the school commission and both teachers about what we mean i.e. the only time we will say yes is if it is a necessary part of a school project that will affect his marks.

Sweet DS has ASD, and like flesh we believe this could potentially leave him open to being targeted.

I have no idea what a SIMS box is and is likely to be irrelevant where we are anyway.

I would also consider why you do/don't want her to be in any videos, as it may mean she is left out of certain activities (or not fully involved) or the whole class is unable to do certain activities. Our year group recently did MFL music videos as a tutor group competition, which was filmed to show in assembly and be judged. If someone didn't have photo consent, either they'd have an out of shot role or we'd have to rethink the whole year group activity. And that kid might really want to do it! Obviously there are definite safeguarding reasons for not showing somebody and that is unavoidable, but I'd consider the reasons.

Why would the staff tick a box? I filled out the form?
The forms you fill out are usually inputted manually onto the school's information system. Staff then check on the computer system or pull a report which gives them all the information. The paper copies are filed and kept (for a long time) and of course often looked at for reference.

The head should already know that this has happened, the teacher would have had to have received permission from the head to show the film.

With regards to equipment and storage we don't know enough about the teacher's partner to know what has happened. Is he just handy with a camera, is it a hobby or is he semi-professional or professional. Each could have different issues around further use of pictures or film.

If its only shown at a parents evening with presumably a controlled audience I don't see why it is any more a safeguarding issue than having your child wander about without wearing a mask at all times.

AnInchWasPinched

It varies from teacher to teacher as to what they do, I check sims then check with pastoral, and sometimes (if appropriate) check with the child. I have also been known to ring home and talk to the parents if I know that the child will have a issue with being left out of pictures.

SIMS is basically where all of the information about your child is kept.

SIMS is an electronic record system for schools. It is usually used by schools who are LA maintained. There are other systems that can be used as well and the school may have a different package, such as Scholarpack, which can track other things such as absence, data and link siblings in the record system.

She would happily make a point of singling a child out rather than e.g. making her stand at the edge of the group and just not filming the children at the edge of the group.
Sometimes you have to move a child to the edge of the group if thry can't be filmed etc. Why should other children in a friendshio group etc not get in photos for assembly etc because one person can't? There was a thread about this where another MN user was saying that they had a child (not CP/LAC or anything) whose parents didnt want them photographed, but the child didnt know and was desperate to be in the photos.

When you say the videos were "of your child " do you mean that the focus of the video WAS your child, or that your child appeared in the background or fleetingly in a general shot?
That makes a difference.
Whilst the reality is if there's a 'no photo' rule then we just take loads of group/action shots and then delete any with certain children in, it could have been an oversight

It's worth raising but be aware that the input onto the system is usually 'photos/videos allowed yes or no'. There are 2 options on our system so no option for 'no but we could discuss it'.
I'd go into it seeking clarity on the situation and school's policy (and whetehr school were able to record your addition on the central register - I'd guess not) rather than because you have a bee in your bonnet about the teacher.

Please raise this with the head. There are very good reasons for the rules about photos and films of children, and breaching these could in some cases be a massive safeguarding issue.
This.

It's one thing to accidentally video your DD. It's quite another to broadcast it on parents evening.

cdtaylornats One of the reasons we said no was because there is no policy on what happens to the video files.
Are they stored on the school system to be accessed whenever anyone wants?
Do the students have access to the school system? (when I was at school the staff network was regularly hacked into by some of the more IT knowledgeable kids)
How long are they going to keep the files for? Will this show them at the parents evening for the next 5 years?
Will they be put on the school website? The school guarantee only that they won't put recognisable videos or photos of the children on the homepage.
Why should there be videos of her as a 5 year old floating around on the internet?
If it's filmed as a media project for class will other children in the class be given the file to take home and edit as homework? Or just edit and stick on the internet at will. That leaves my DS who has ASD and whose behaviour often doesn't fall under the bracket 'normal' open to ridicule. And frankly I'd be mortified if videos taken of me of presentations at primary school were on the internet, why shouldn't our DC have the same privacy?

I'll clarify that. Now, as an adult I'd just laugh it off. But as a teenager or young adult, I'd have been mortified.

Photos, in our view are easier to laugh off as a bad photo as its a frozen moment in time, but with films you can't do that.

Dd's school have Facebook and Twitter accounts as well as the school website which makes me even more resolute in not having her videoed and photographed as they aren't even private accounts. I have neither but could put in dd's school name and view pages for the school, sixth form and various departments all with photos and videos of children some named and some I recognise.

AnInchWasPinched
Then when they said 'are do you give consent to videos' you should have ticked no and left it at that (not put anything extra about how you'd discuss allowing ot etc)
It goes without saying that it could be a potential safeguarding issue, especially if the child was a CP/LAC student so it is worth raising.
I do think you need to clarify whrther your child was the focus of the footage vs happened to have been at the end/in the background.

But in answer to your questions (based on my experience of schools):
Are they stored on the school system to be accessed whenever anyone wants?
No. They're held by the person who created them plus any relevant member of staff e.g IT staff
Do the students have access to the school system? (when I was at school the staff network was regularly hacked into by some of the more IT knowledgeable kids)
They have access to their own accounts only. Staff have access to their own accounts only.
How long are they going to keep the files for? Will this show them at the parents evening for the next 5 years?
The rules are 'reasonable*. E.g. at our place reasonable means until just after they've left. So in y11 leaving assembly we do show photos montage of their time with us. But obviously that never leaves school
Will they be put on the school website? The school guarantee only that they won't put recognisable videos or photos of the children on the homepage.
That's down to individual schools. Generally we pick students for things like that and send a letter home.
Why should there be videos of her as a 5 year old floating around on the internet?
It depends if the video went online or was used inter ally by school
If it's filmed as a media project for class will other children in the class be given the file to take home and edit as homework?
I have never in my career ever come across that or heard of thay happening.

Sorry if I missed it in the middle of the thread, but, surely, (if you can't find a copy) you can go to the teacher or head, ask to confirm what you put on the form and remind them (to give them the benefit of the doubt) that you did not give permission for your child to be filmed.

If confirmed, I'd ask for all copies to be destroyed in my presence.
If not confirmed, I'd give them an explicit request NOT to film the child.

fleshmarketclose
We have tiered approval for that.
Eg.
Can your child be photographed/videoed and:
A) it be used in school e.g assemblies, staff training etc
B) put in promotional materials / newsletters
C) be shared online and on social media

I've filmed parts of lessons for training and spent ages tweaking seating plans/camera angles to keep children out.

I think school can use videos in school for school purposes - they can not release photos or videos for news papers or online etc

That's correct - for example we have pictures of the kids on the displays in my classroom, or when they get a certificate their picture goes on the wall in the hall for a week. But for pictures used on the website/publicity materials parents can opt out and those kids wear a badge on days when photos are being taken so they aren't used.

However pictures where children are not identifiable are allowed, eg. out-of-focus backs of heads in an audience.

What I would be much more concerned about is that the teacher was getting her DH to come in and film/photograph. As PP have said those images need to be kept in school and if her DH is a professional who was helping out, it needs to have been sanctioned by senior leadership and be should not be taking film home to edit.

Official school photographers do of course take pictures of children off-site (including usually those who have opted out of photos) but they have a professional reputation to uphold, and presumably data protection legislation applies to them.

Her DH doesn't need a DBS check to be in school if constantly supervised.