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AIBU?

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Original poster

First and surnames on leavers hoodies is a safeguarding issue

362 replies

SavonDeMarseille · 01/02/2019 09:08

Just found out the Y6 leavers hoodies (FFS since when was this a thing for Yr6!) will have the full names on their hoodies in the year number with their own name above the number and the school emblem and name on the front. AIBU to think this is a big safeguarding issue and should not be permitted. AI also BU or to want to take this up with the PTA who are organising this. Hoodies are worn all week on Yr 6 school trip.

OP posts:
Sidelook · 01/02/2019 10:47

When I graduated last year from uni. We were told that the leavers hoodie will no longer feature student names due to data protection.

Schmoobarb · 01/02/2019 10:49

And as a side issue I can’t bloody stand parents who have fuck all to do with the PTA but still moan about what they do. Perhaps if you were on the PTA OP you could have contributed your view about the hoodies there. Piping up to do nothing but complain is a bit off though.

WorraLiberty · 01/02/2019 10:52

The PTA has given no consideration to looked after children and how to accommodate their safety

That is the job of school staff and parents, not the PTA Hmm

If you must continue with this ridiculous 'It's a safeguarding issue', take it up with the school.

Do come back and let us know what they say.

JacquesHammer · 01/02/2019 10:54

That is the job of school staff and parents, not the PTA

Don't agree at all. The PTA has to consider it as well. It isn't by all means their responsibility but it isn't hard to have a discussion.

WorraLiberty · 01/02/2019 10:54

When I graduated last year from uni. We were told that the leavers hoodie will no longer feature student names due to data protection.

It has absolutely nothing to do with data protection.

AllPizzasGreatAndSmall · 01/02/2019 10:54

The second being that the children wear them on the Y6 school trip and you can't have one child not wearing a hoodie in the group of 60. The school rely on all the children having one. It is not a financial thing, it is safety

Are you seriously saying that every child MUST have a hoodie and MUST wear it at all times for a whole week?
We manage to take 80-90 Y6s away for a week, almost all have a hoodie and take it with them, but they don't wear them when caving, canoeing, surfing etc because they wear specialist clothing during activities and wear their hoodies in the evenings at the centre. We manage to keep them safe and haven't lost any yet.

WorraLiberty · 01/02/2019 10:55

Don't agree at all. The PTA has to consider it as well. It isn't by all means their responsibility but it isn't hard to have a discussion.

And that discussion would be with the relevant staff at the school, who would tell them they're not allowed to do it, if it was an actual safeguarding issue...

JellycatElfie · 01/02/2019 10:55

But unless the person sending the kidnapping and death threats was following the child and their school around anyway how would that person be there to read the child’s name off a hoody?? If the person making the threats is there to read the name on the hoody the chances are they already know it’s that child, with or without the hoody.

JacquesHammer · 01/02/2019 10:57

And that discussion would be with the relevant staff at the school, who would tell them they're not allowed to do it, if it was an actual safeguarding issue...

Right...but they still have to consider it.

Directive came from school that ours had first names (or first name/initial/nicknames) only. No surnames.

We all coped and said "cool" and happily paid for the hoody. It took no extra effort to arrange.

Schmoobarb · 01/02/2019 10:57

I don’t think it should be the PTA’s role to organise the hoodies if they are de facto “compulsory”. It should be the school. I was on the PTA and we had nothing to do with the hoodies.

paintinmyhairAgain · 01/02/2019 10:58

my dcs all had their nicknames above the year number, hardly anyone had their actual name among their friends.
safe guarding issue ?? wtf Grin

JacquesHammer · 01/02/2019 10:59

But unless the person sending the kidnapping and death threats was following the child and their school around anyway how would that person be there to read the child’s name off a hoody??

It was possible. Child had already moved school twice.

I mean seriously - even if it was over-cautious (and I can bloody understand why) I mean how is it even an issue that your kid might not have their surname on their hoody Grin

Allalittlebitshit2019 · 01/02/2019 10:59

I dont even like the school name of my children's school uniform, so my kids just wear plain jumpers. Why?? because of the job i do, and if i bump into my children (very young) when out at work with clients then im more traceable and identifiable, they will also have more of an idea of where i live.
Its all very well people saying no its not a safeguarding issue, well it may not be for them but it may be for others. Also its not just about when the jumpers are worn or if the child is or isn't identifiable from the jumper they are wearing its also about all the years of the jumper being in circulation. Someone could recognise the name on the jumper and then know that said child goes to that school, which could identify where they live.
Saying that i guess the children are older 16? finishing that school, so maybe its not such a big deal. Also of course you can opt out!
Safeguarding is subjective, also as parents you probably wont know which other child/s are at risk as its largely confidential on a need to know bases.

trulybadlydeeply · 01/02/2019 10:59

It's not a safeguarding issue IMO - I could not imagine ringing the LA to raise a SG alert because the school had printed my DC's name on a hoodie. I know from experience that a school who has a child at risk of identification from an abusive parent will risk assess this, and have alternative arrangements for that child so they are not left out, and it will be the responsibility of the RP/carer to raise this as an issue anyway.

Any child who is not at risk will not be in danger from wearing a hoodie with their name on. Anyone can stand near a group of children chatting and soon find out what their names are anyway, and the responsibility is with parents to ensure that children are aware of dangers, not to talk to people they don't know, even if they know their name, etc.

A yr 6 child is likely going to be in a hoodie for such a short period of time, the way they tend to grow at that age, and it will spend most of it's life at the back of a wardrobe!

JellycatElfie · 01/02/2019 11:01

If someone has gone to that extent, truly, to find a child, whether or not they’re wearing a hoody with their name is not going to protect them. Why the need for the Grin in the post, too? I’m asking genuine questions - no need for passive aggressive emojis really!

Original poster
SavonDeMarseille · 01/02/2019 11:02

All sorted out. Our order says Just call me xxx as the childs full name. Bet the system changes over the next few years when the PTA wakes up to the stupidity of full names.

OP posts:
Kaykay06 · 01/02/2019 11:04

My son wore the thing on the day he got it and that’s it
Waste of time/money imo his name was so tiny how would anyone know which name was his? & surely any child who is at risk via their name would opt out or not have a full name on it.

PrivateDoor · 01/02/2019 11:04

Of course the children don't HAVE to wear the hoodie every day of the week long trip. How many will even be clean by the end of the week? And are you suggesting that they cannot wear a coat? Sorry but this is nonsense. They MAY wear but don't HAVE to. Just opt out if it is an issue for you, but please don't spoil it for everyone else.

As an aside, you say that some DC cannot be trusted even at that age to not go with a stranger who learns their name from their clothing. If your DC was that vulnerable, would you actually be sending them on this trip (that apparently has teachers that can only identify the children in their care if wearing a school hoodie?).

The80sweregreat · 01/02/2019 11:05

I work as a mere minion in a school and over the past decade the whole year six leaving for secondary school is becoming bigger and bigger. I saw a few year six children last year with these hoodies on but I would have needed a new glasses prescription to read any child's name on it as they sauntered past me.
The trip away , the leavers assembly, the disco the prom now this : it's getting out of hand a bit.
I'm glad I don't have children at school any more! Must also cost a fortune.
PTA is another thread entirely: the school I work in has a fantastic one and raised thousands. It's just all these other things that make it hard for some parents I bet! It seems never-ending.

WorraLiberty · 01/02/2019 11:05

I wonder how many people obsessed with the word 'safeguarding', have or have had their kid with them in their FB profile/cover photo?

Post in your local FB group and everyone local knows your name.

"Hi, you're Sarah Brown's child aren't you? Come with me, Mummy told me to pick you up".

Far more likely that someone walking round town with a magnifying glass, looking to stumble upon a random kid in a hoodie...

MrsJayy · 01/02/2019 11:05

My dc had the leavers hoodie but high school and they wore it last fortnight at school and occasionaly over the summer now ione wears it as PJs hanging about the house it is a school jumper children are fickle they won't be wearing it much

PrivateDoor · 01/02/2019 11:06

Also, my DC name is printed in full on the back of the school football kit - he wears this walking home from school sometimes. I assume you would object to this too op?

marymarkle · 01/02/2019 11:06

Yes of course any school will have systems in place for children that are genuinely at risk.
And if your 11-12 year old child is genuinely at risk of grooming or being kidnapped because a stranger reads their name of their hoodie and opens a conversation with them by using their name, please please start teaching them some street smarts. Because they would be dangerously naive and vulnerable.

Yabbers · 01/02/2019 11:07

Our order says Just call me xxx as the childs full name. Bet the system changes over the next few years when the PTA wakes up to the stupidity of full names.

It’s been the system at our school for ten years, don’t hold your breath. Not surprisingly the PTA don’t change everything they do because of one parent being overly protective.

marymarkle · 01/02/2019 11:08

And I can guarantee if I wanted to, I could easily find out the name of any local 11 and 12 year old and where they live. This information is easily available.