To be uncomfortable about school publishing post 18 destinations?

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So DCs' school have produced a very professional board which is displayed in several locations around the school and referred to at open eves etc which contains a photo of each child, their full name and where they went after A levels. For kids who went to Uni, it has the University name and the subject (plus college for Oxbridge). For those who got jobs or apprenticeships it has the company name, the level of apprenticeship and the subject/qualification.

My DC are not on it but DS1 will be next year (assuming he achieves something they want to bragg about!).

Is this OK, so much personal information on display in these times of GDPR? (or even before, TBH). Not only does it tell people where these young people are now and what they are doing, but it also gives a fairly good indication of what their results were.

This is the official position from the ICO website:

Can schools give my exam results to the media for publication?

“Publishing examination results is a common and accepted practice. Many students enjoy seeing their name in print, particularly in the local press and the GDPR does not stop this happening. However, under the GDPR schools have to act fairly when publishing results, and where people have concerns about their or their child’s information being published, schools must take those concerns seriously.

Schools should make sure that all pupils and their parents or guardians are aware as early as possible whether examinations results will be made public and how this will be done. Schools should also explain how the information will be published. For example, if results will be listed alphabetically, or in grade order.

In general, because a school has a legitimate reason for publishing examination results, pupils or their parents or guardians do not need to give their consent to publication. However, if you have a specific concern about publication of your results, you have the right to object. Schools should consider objections from pupils and parents before making a decision to publish. A school would need to have a good reason to reject someone’s objection to publication of their exam results.

My dd’s School publish a list of uni’s and courses entered, they list some names (if they have gone to high achieving uni’s). I’m pretty sure if they are using photos the pupils would have agreed to it.

Why would you be unhappy with it? What is going to happen if people know where your child is going to university?

If the pupils are 18 they have every right to decide for themselves if they want the information released.

How sad is suspicion. How sad not to celebrate.

My local newspaper always publishes the names and A level results (including A star and A grades) of A level candidates in all the local schools. Don’t know if you can opt out.

We oldies will recall that this is how one got one's results initially, the performance of going to the school didn't exist. The details came in an envelope in the next couple of days.
I still recall walking from the bus-stop after my holiday job and the neighbours calling to me Well done, giving me a thumbs up and so on. Maybe we weren't as hyper-sensitive then yet we survived,

I would have no problem with this.

How can it be used maliciously? It's not difficult to find out which university someone is at.

The publication of Public exam results was always done in my school days both GCE/CSE and A level results would be published in the local paper for all schools. Surely it is just part of validation. Interestingly on another thread today a parent was wondering how she could check the qualifications of the teachers/nursery nurse teaching her child. If Public exam results cannot be published then how, in the future is anyone going to be able to check the qualifications of anyone? Like it or not, A levels are a facilitator qualification. Also I don't suppose 18 year olds mind other people knowing their next step destination and as adults it is their decision to make not their parents.

What's the problem? School is displaying information that is already in the public domain.

We're all going to end up retreating into our individual caves and never coming out for fear of... something

I genuinely fail to see the issue here. They did this at my school almost 30 years ago, a list of leavers and destinations. What is the problem?

If Public exam results cannot be published then how, in the future is anyone going to be able to check the qualifications of anyone?

Errr you do know people get exam certificates don't you? Or do you imagine everyone has to carry round a ratty copy of their local newspaper for eons?

As long as the kids themselves don't mind, and that any young person who has good reason not to have their information in the public domain has their wishes respected then I see no problem.

Equally a list of x to Oxford, x medics, z to Imperial should also be sufficient to show prospective parents.

We always did this with our Y13s, so does DH's school. The younger students love to see the photos and read where the Sixth Formers they remember have gone onto and what they are doing. They are always asked on results day if they mind. I can't see an issue with it.

Normal - it was 30 years ago when I left school and still is. Yes students can ask for their data/destination to be redacted - and I know some did st the school where I work. Some of it is put out there to celebrate achievement as well as promote the school.

My children are much younger, but I wouldn't be happy with them published anywhere (in school, on website, newspapers etc) with name and photograph, I try to keep them off the internet as much as possible, and certainly would not want locations published anywhere. I don't think you are wrong to be concerned.

Perfectly normal. It's a celebration of attainment, and every student gets a recognition in some form or another. Opt out clause for the students is available, only a few have done so over the past few years. It's very rudimentary info anyway, e.g., 'MissusGeneHunt, with flying colours, Astro Physics and Brain Surgery to be read at Slough Polytechnic' etc.

A public recognition of pride and a fond farewell to much thought of students!

My old school has these boards going back nigh on 200 years.

Amazing how with all these data protections, people today are SO scared all the time...

I am not being goody, genuinely interested- for those who would be unhappy about this, why?

From my understanding of GDPR, the school is putting a lot of personal information into the public domain, so they should be doing that with the express permission of all those that are being featured. Given their age it is quiet possible that they need to get the permission off the pupils themselves rather than parents. If they have not got permission then that would be a data breach as I understand GDPR

Yes, to be compliant with the new law they would need granular, opt in consent. They would have to get that from the 18 year olds themselves as it is their data, not their parents and at 18 you're considered old enough to decide how it's used.

But at the age of 18 they are adults and can make that decision for themselves. It’s fairly common practice, although maybe not with the photos as well. I do wonder if the historians of the future will have access to any records...everything will be shredded because of GDPR!

What are you expecting to happen? They get kidnapped in a university dorm because someone saw them on the school wall? Ridiculous that a school cannot even be proud of their students, im sure they all gave their permission.

They probably all have their Facebook profile displaying this and more.

I think it's appropriate if the students consent., particularly as photos are being used.
At ds's school they have a board up showing which universities have made offers to students at the school - does not specify student names.

I honestly don’t see the problem with this at all and find it bizarre that anyone would! It’s only on boards at the school, not online as well, right? Unless I’ve missed something?