That my dd’s school show them cert 15 films at 13/14?

[Geraniumpink]

As the title says. Is this usual at other schools? She’s about to watch ‘Dead Man Walking’ as part of her English class. They’ve already seen ‘The Pianist’ last term in History.

Seriously? Does your little angel have internet access? I doubt she's running everythibg by Mummy 🙄
Certification is a guideline, doubt 14 yr olds are being traumatised by a 15 movie.

The ratings are kind of irrelevant - it depends more on the films. For example, Jaws is a PG, but I wouldn't let my primary school aged kids watch it. I doubt there are many schools that would let teenagers watch something that was genuinely disturbing. However, the kind of books that are read in school can be far more graphic - The Color Purple, Lord of the Flies, Beloved etc. I think it's good to be aware of the types of films and books they are being exposed to - especially if they have questions about them - but I wouldn't worry about them being shown 15 certificate films.

I wouldn't give it a second thought

Alright, thanks all. As it seems to be the usual thing I will just let them get on with it. I was checking because a few of the primary schools I have worked in are very strict about ratings, so I was a bit surprised that it doesn’t apply at secondary.

It doesn’t matter that they are watching it with a supervising adult - the supervising adult is breaking the law.

As a parent I can show my 10 year old an 18 cert DVD if I choose. Not that I would, but certainly wouldn’t be breaking the law.

SirVix Dd was shown a CSE film at school depicting rape when she was 11 and was really upset and shocked.

That's because it's really upsetting and shocking. People should be really upset and shocked about it. And educated, rather than shielded.

Well, when I was a first year (so maybe just turned 12) our R.E. teacher was spectacularly shit. Pretty sure he just let us watch Terminator most weeks.

Cert 15 films often have appalling language.

Anyway, schools should not be breaking the law. There are plenty of eminently watchable 12s, PGs and Us. (Are these still the classifications?)

Sandy no, CSE films should not be used ever. See Dr Jessica Eaton's work on this subject. Showing an 11 year old a depiction of rape is not educational, FFS.

As others have said, schools aren't breaking the law. It's good to exercise professional judgement on what you show and when.

bbfc.co.uk/education-resources/teacher-guide/teacher-faqs#2

Gth1234 Yes, but as the examination papers will have questions on the set texts/films, it won't help the kids much to have watched all those 'suitable' films

If you think that a cert 15 film has appalling language and believe that is a reason not to let a 14 year old watch it, then I don't believe you've ever set foot on a school playground. They will have heard it all before.

There was no particular reason to be showing a 15 - it was topic work about crime. The other groups watched Spider-Man.

FFS. Why on earth are they watching Spider-Man at school?

I would either trust the schools judgement or watch the film and decide for yourself. Going on the certificate is a bit mindless. Something might be a 15 because it is unsuitable for some 12 year olds. It might be fine for the great majority of 14 year olds.

These are films specifically chosen to complement the coursework, not films they pop on during wet playtime or whatever. The teachers watch with them and they discuss the content and the language etc. It is fine if done appropriately.

As someone above has mentioned I would worry more about the books they are reading. I remember DD laughing about the fact that a shop prevented her from buying a certificate 15 DVD when she was 17 (she didn't have ID) but they had no problem with her buying 50 shades of grey.

Anyone read or seen Shakespeare recently? Murder galore, under age sex, weirdos dressing up, supernatural creatures presented as normal, swearing, sexual innuendo. Should be banned from all schools, banned I tell you....

Because it's on the GCSE syllabus the content is the same as in the books.

Schools do not have to comply with the law. It's an opt out for educational purposes

The age rating for a DVD, video or Blu-ray explains which audience we believe the film is suitable for, and applies to point of sale or rental rather than to where the material is viewed. It is not actually illegal for schools to show BBFC-rated videos, DVDs or Blu-rays to its pupils of any age, just as parents may also choose to show any material to children in the home. Merely showing an age-restricted film to underaged persons - or allowing them to see one outside a licensed cinema - is not in itself an offence.

Not breaking the law, and honestly, they're reading the texts as well surely?

I don't like them showing these films to younger kids. We were made to watch Schindler's list in year 9 history. It horrified me so much I couldn't properly and ended uo giving up history, a subject I had loved, for geography that didn't interest me at all, because I couldn't handle seeing more films like it. A few years later I watched the movie again and was ready to learn about the subject properly, but at 13 I was not. No reason those things can't be studied later on, in year 11.

YANBU - they should only be ahowing them 18 certificates. How will they appreciate say, Tolkien's work if they've not seen Lord of the G Strings with Dildo Baggins the Throbit.

When I studied these texts at school, we did not usually see them on film. We just read and studied the book. So why do they need to see the film?

I think you'd have to have an incredibly sensitive DC for this kind of film to pose an issue for them - since you know in advance you could always remove your DC from the class if that was the case. I would only do this if I had a very good reason though. I very much doubt this will be the worse they've seen at that age.