To think that some of this GDPR thing is getting silly

[MrsAngle]

OK, I know it has it's good bits, but..
On the school facebook page one of the parents has asked if there's a list of names for "class A" as DC is having a party an parent wants to send invites. It's reception class, so the DC, so probably not the most reliable person to ask to name 30 children
School have responded with a resounding no, stating the reasons as GDPR
Previously school have had no issues with giving lists out, they were even offered for the reception class at Christmas so no one got left out of card giving.

This is a bit daft isn't it?

A list of first names and then giving them out in class would be fine. Publishing a list on Facebook without consent probably not as Facebook is public. I can see why some parents might not want that.

Maybe a coincidence but my junkmail has diminished considerably!

Sorry pressed send too soon! It's all about consent really so if you consent to having your child's details posted on Facebook they can do it. Not everyone will have though.

Our school have never allowed class lists to be given out ‘due to data protection’, the funny thing is that my eldest has now reached year 5 and been given the chance to order a leavers hoodie which ironically will have the names of all classmates listed on the back.

They can do it, but they need parents' consent. No reason why they can't request this and leave off the names of the people who don't consent.

We can now no longer email teachers directly on their school emails. We must email the general office email and ask within that to be sent on to the relevant staff member. This seems a bit weird so I can’t email mr hooey about my child, I must effectively email miss granger in the office who will read my email and then forward it onto mr hooey but what if miss granger has no need to know this information what so ever

We still get name lists in reception, only first names now though.

You need consent for all of those named on the list.
Strictly speaking you always did need this, even prior to GDPR.

It's a good thing, and a step in the right direction. The amount of personal data being given away by ourselves, our friends and then big business is appalling. We should have reigned it in years ago.

It's not silly, it's done for good reasons, there may be families who need to ensure their child's presence in the school isn't advertised. The school would now need to obtain specific opt-in consent from each family in each class before sending out a child's name on a list, this is probably quite a bit of work for the school. They might be able to do it more easily at the start of the new school year with all the other consents.

I don't think anyone expected the list on facebook, they just asked on the facebook page if they could pop in for a list. I don't see why a list of first names is a problem.

I think it's a shame that some kids are going to be left out because a 4 year old can't remember the names of all their classmates.
There's already a form to consent to having your dc's photo used on the website/facebook page (facebook is a private group and you are added through the school, so no randoms on there). They telephoned me to ask permission to put my DD's photo in the new brochure.
I may suggest a new permission box on the registration forms at the next PTA meeting

And, yes I completely agree about the lack of care some places have with our personal data, and the way in which it is used is quite dreadful, but I'm not talking big picture here, just a simple class list.

I don't see why a list of first names is a problem

First names shouldn't be an issue. They are not identifying personal data.

The law is the law. There are purposes for which they can use personal data, and then there are other reasons people might want personal data. I imagine they are being quite cautious, but I think they're correct.

The school themselves wouldn’t get involved, but our class reps collected names and mobile numbers for each class, and distributed the lists.
It was purely voluntary, if you didn’t want to be on it, you weren’t.
Nobody had any issue with it.

I agree it's better to have more privacy not less.

People (and companies and organisations) have been becoming too lax.

And in this instance it's for a trivial reason. For a class party there's no reason why 30 invitations can't be worded/designed in such a way as to not need names and given out 1 to each child. Parent inviting could even ask for names to be included in replies, or take the time and effort to properly get to know the children and parents at the party.

I've hosted all class parties when dd was similar age and never felt the need to ask for such a list.