Primary School using random parent to take photographs of P1 instead of using a company

[James1981]

Is it just me, or is this weird?

I definitely won't consent to this.

The father isn't charging for the service and as far as I'm aware only does photography as a hobby. We don't even know his full name.

Picked. 🙄

Thank you to those that have replied without purposely trying to ridicule me for having a different opinion to them.

This is not an opportunity to discredit the school. This is a parent querying the safeguarding measures in place for their child.

Those that suggested I get in touch with the school to ask re GDPR procedures, I will, thank you. I planned on doing so, but had an interest in the perspective of others.

It is naive to assume just because a school is a school that all safeguarding measures will be stringent. This could have been avoided if the letter contained more information around the procedural element of the opportunity.

We have a random parent photographer do them at our school and they are far better than the ones done companies, it never crossed my mind to be concerned because he is chaperoned constantly by teachers and a whole lot of small people itching to 'tell' on someone anyone

@SoupDragon

Why do you think it's a "random" parent? Do you think they just Pisces one out of the hat?

Now that would be a strange kettle of fish.

It’s just you. We have this every year for nativity. A parent will take the photos, another volunteer prints them and sell. We also have professional photographer for other sessions. The PTA volunteer photos are like £2 and the photographer ones are like £60. The price difference is huge. Not everyone is a pedo and the volunteer won’t be left alone with the children. In fact all PTA volunteers are DBS checked and I doubt the photographer is. I have volunteered as STEM embassador via work at a secondary school and none of us are DBA checked. We are simply told never let ourselves be alone with the children. Always stay with the teacher to protect ourselves. While at my children’s primary school, all parent volunteers are DBS checked via the school.

@MsTSwift

Would rather support a small business than some big corporate. Your concerns are really weird - don’t voice them people will keep their distance...

What a horrible thing to say. How awful to live by the value that those with different perspectives are to be avoided.

@frumpety

We have a random parent photographer do them at our school and they are far better than the ones done companies, it never crossed my mind to be concerned because he is chaperoned constantly by teachers and a whole lot of small people itching to 'tell' on someone anyone

Thank you. I have stated in the thread that it is the GDPR nature of the scenario that concerns me, not the actual person being present in the school.

So sad people are behaving like this....good luck to the school and volunteer parent.

@NotGenerationAlpha

It’s just you. We have this every year for nativity. A parent will take the photos, another volunteer prints them and sell. We also have professional photographer for other sessions. The PTA volunteer photos are like £2 and the photographer ones are like £60. The price difference is huge. Not everyone is a pedo and the volunteer won’t be left alone with the children. In fact all PTA volunteers are DBS checked and I doubt the photographer is. I have volunteered as STEM embassador via work at a secondary school and none of us are DBA checked. We are simply told never let ourselves be alone with the children. Always stay with the teacher to protect ourselves. While at my children’s primary school, all parent volunteers are DBS checked via the school.

But it's not about just being physically near the children, it's the fact they have access to photographs of them. For example, I'm sure you aren't allowed to take photographs of the kids your working with and keeping them on your personal phone.

@Bearnecessity

So sad people are behaving like this....good luck to the school and volunteer parent.

I am asking a question. In an anonymous capacity. It's hardly going to prove as a challenge for the actual school.

DD's school photos were generally grim, especially the whole class and team ones. They started at £25.

I would have been delighted if they'd let the A level photography students sell some for the PTA.

@bettsbattenburg

I do all the school photographs for my DCs school, it's a hobby of mine but I could do it professionally if I wanted. I go in for an extra day to do them. The school save a fortune, the parents get cheaper school photos as well as the school raising money, they get more then with an outside company and prefer them as the children know me well and we do forest school settings and so on rather than studio style each time.

Thank you for responding. Where do you store the photographs?

Surely the school will be obliged to comply with data protection to such an extent that they put conditions on what he does with the photos?

He'll be DBS checked and will have to sign all sorts of safeguarding internet and visitors policies.

If you're unsure, you could ask the school what measures they've put in place to ensure safeguarding and confidentiality.

@James1981 never crossed my mind to take photos when doing the STEM stuff. That would have been weird. However, you are allowed to video and take photos in assembly and nativity in the school.

As it is though, I didn’t consent to have my children’s images taken in the school. If I give consent the school’s policy means it can be on Twitter. I object very much to that. Therefore my children aren’t in the nativity photos. I take my own from the audience.

@anniegun

Another parent determined to undermine a school at every opportunity

Sorry for triggering you

[quote NotGenerationAlpha]@James1981 never crossed my mind to take photos when doing the STEM stuff. That would have been weird. However, you are allowed to video and take photos in assembly and nativity in the school.

As it is though, I didn’t consent to have my children’s images taken in the school. If I give consent the school’s policy means it can be on Twitter. I object very much to that. Therefore my children aren’t in the nativity photos. I take my own from the audience.[/quote]
You've hit the nail on the head. How do I know the photos won't go on Twitter? This is my exact point - I have no idea what will be done with the images.

Why don't you just refuse consent for your DC picture to be taken?

This would absolutely not concern me. And I wouldn't trust the school to ensure it was managed properly.

If I didn't have trust in the school to make the right decisions then I wouldn't send my children.

@James1981

It's so bizarre to me. This person won't be obliged to adhere to data protection.

Yes, he will. The law applies to everyone.

*I would ha ha!

All DBS does is show somebody hasn’t been caught. There is no infaliable system here.

Is the person doing it as a hobby , as a keen photographer or are they a professional photographer who is voluteering their skills ?

@James1981 has the school asked you to sign a consent form about use of photos at school? We have one when we join the school and it says specifically it allows for social media and websites. We also have photographers from the local newspaper and they take photos of the reception class and they are on the local newspaper website.

The school should have a form for you to sign about this. I know girl guiding has too about events. I never consent to them because they always include use in websites, social media and newspaper etc.

You've hit the nail on the head. How do I know the photos won't go on Twitter? This is my exact point - I have no idea what will be done with the images.

Have you tried asking the school ?

They'll probably be taken with a camera that's owned by the school.

The school will have a nominated member of staff who will see they're deleted afterwards.

That's how it works at the schools here anyway.

God forbid a parent should try and do a nice thing for the school and parents. Just don’t get your childs photo taken if you are worried about what might happen to the image.