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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU for teacher to give out list of names of all the kids in the class

155 replies

NotForSale · 15/12/2021 07:28

Is it helpful for writing christmas cards/ party invites?
Or against date protection/ safeguarding/ GDPR?

OP posts:
Bunnycat101 · 15/12/2021 07:50

Can you not work it out from any mum’s groups etc. before the first week we had photos and names of all the children. V handy so you know who everyone is at parties etc. I’m surprised you’ve got this far without knowing tbh.

CheesyFootballsAreEvil · 15/12/2021 07:51

I'd be happy with first names.

Redwinestillfine · 15/12/2021 07:53

Hand in the invites and ask teacher to hand them out- ours has a no Christmas card policy anyway )

IggyAce · 15/12/2021 07:53

Wouldn’t happen in our school and for the past 2 years it’s been no cards and I expect that this will continue. As sorting the cards is extra work for admin staff (they ran a post box)

Tigger85 · 15/12/2021 07:57

I asked for first names only, D's is in reception and due to the covid measures it's a one way system with no stopping for drop off and pick up. We aren't originally from here so don't know any of the parents and have been unable to even speak to them due to covid measures. I know a few kids names from D's talking about them but unsure of spellings or if he's saying them correctly, I'm sure he knows all the kids names but not if you put him on the spot. I was told no as it's a gdpr breach and against safeguarding. They said to bring in blank cards and the teacher and ta's will fill them in. Same school just let's any random adult who knows the kids name pick them up from school with no checking who they are and if the parents have given that person permission to collect the child.

Oncebittentwice · 15/12/2021 07:59

Surnames are identifying though. Vulnerable children could be located by family or others they have been separated from

JackieWeaverHandforthCouncil · 15/12/2021 08:00

First names only is not against GDPR. It’s only identifying information in exceptional situations i.e. the child’s name is so unusual or the spelling is so unusual that it does constitute identifying personal information but there will be approx 1000 Oliver’s in your borough so it will be fine.

DomPom47 · 15/12/2021 08:01

My sons school gave a list out online from register with the surnames cropped out.

Hapoydayz · 15/12/2021 08:01

We received names of child, parents and addresses.

ImInStealthMode · 15/12/2021 08:01

I said it on the last thread about this and I'll say it again, a list of 30 first names breaks no GDPR rules whatsoever.

It's only when additional information (surname, dates of birth etc) are added that it renders the person identifiable and therefore becomes problematic.

EarringsandLipstick · 15/12/2021 08:02

The school have no role in this where I am.

Instead, the parents organise a list of names & contact numbers. That was pre what's app. These days someone sets up a what's app group, most will join it.

What the teacher will usually do is circulate a note to the parents in the first year of school, and parents can choose to supply their contact details to the organising parent.

Regarding Christmas cards, don't do the whole class. Ask DC who's at his table & write those, if you must.

AnxiousWeirdo · 15/12/2021 08:02

We received names of child, parents and addresses
Shock

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 15/12/2021 08:02

@SomethingBeginningWithX

In what way is it against GDPR? It's a list of names only, it's not dates of birth, addresses, medical conditions or anything sensitive. I'm all for privacy but it would seem excessive to treat this as confidential information from another parent unless there are some safeguarding concerns around a particular child.

Don't your kids know the information anyway? My 5 year old knows all the names in his class.

Technically even names can be considered personal data under GDPR - it's any data which can be used to identify an individual. By definition this list will enable children to be identified. I agree it would be useful to have a list of class names for various reasons but can understand some schools' nervousness as they will have had iGDPR drummed into them. I know it sounds ridiculous.

ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-topic/data-protection/reform/what-personal-data_en#examples-of-personal-data

RomeoMcFlourish · 15/12/2021 08:04

We were given a list of class names when I asked, first names only. Ridiculous to suggest that that’s a breach of privacy - do you think children go home and refer to their friends as Child A, B or C?

Woeismethischristmas · 15/12/2021 08:07

In our school they sell a calendar and every child is listed as contributor for their class. Won’t give out names for invitations though!

sarah13xx · 15/12/2021 08:07

I’m a teacher in Scotland and if asked I give them a list of first names. I’ve had children before that have been adopted, biological parents in jail so their parents didn’t want their name ever posted online in case they found which school they went to. Even in this instance though, no one has ever objected to me giving out a Christmas card list if requested. My school posted a list of first names on the app for children’s new classes last year too

JoJo10 · 15/12/2021 08:08

We were given a list of first names only. I can get the full list from Google Classroom anyway.

Cherryana · 15/12/2021 08:08

No, first names do not break GDPR regulations.

They would not be classed as identifying data on their own.

duvetdayforeveryone · 15/12/2021 08:08

@Pamsresearch Haha Grin

CrumpledCrumpet · 15/12/2021 08:10

@dementedpixie

I'm sure schools have better things to do than print off names for everyone so they can write Christmas cards!
Our school have done exactly this.

I don’t think it’s a safeguarding issue when the first names only are being made available to parents who might reasonably expect to know at many of the names in the class by way of their own children. If it were posted on the website for all to see that would be a different matter.

Is it a breach of GDPR? Presumably schools have obtained consent for data sharing from parents (as it’s necessary for a wide variety of purposes), in which case no I don’t think it is. Arguably a first name isn’t identifiable information anyway.

ColitisSucks · 15/12/2021 08:11

Last year nursery put a list in the bags without being asked. This year, I asked the teacher if I could have a list of first names only, and was told it wasn't allowed. But she also said that the kids pegs have names...
I really can't see the difference.

ColitisSucks · 15/12/2021 08:12

Also, the full names are visible on Google Classroom for the 70% that are signed up to it. It's all made me a bit Hmm tbh.

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 15/12/2021 08:15

No, first names do not break GDPR regulations.

It's not that straight forward if you care to read up on it.

Blinkingbatshit · 15/12/2021 08:17

They won’t give them out - I asked for a list so we could make sure everyone was invited to a birthday party and the answer was no. In the end dd gave them to the ta to give out and she checked to make sure there was one for everyone. Total unnecessary faff!!

MisgenderedSwan · 15/12/2021 08:18

Our school will give you a list of first names if you ask. We just got the class photo and got my dd to write her own from that, ds doesn't want to write them himself so he doesn't do them. It's not a job I need to add to my list 😂

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