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

[NotForSale]

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

Really surprised that some wouldn’t even give out a list of first names. Even if the name is really unique or they are in need of protection due to DV/foster care etc, if the child is in your child’s class then you have probably heard their name at some point!

[quote CasperGutman]@00100001 GDPR absolutely is still a thing. ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/[/quote]
It is still the Data Protection Act...

I asked the nursery if they were doing cards and if they could give me the names. They said they hadn't heard they weren't doing cards and sent me a list of first names which is all I needed so I was fine with that. We got them written quickly and sent in before they changed their mind with the new variant!

00100001 - It really isn't.

The DPA 2018 implemented the EU GDPR in UK Law and made provision for law enforcement and national security processing of personal data which the GDPR doesn't cover.

The UK GDPR retained the EU GDPR in UK law post Brexit, updated to remove references to EU institutions etc and the DPA 2018 was amended to be similarly updated.

If you only read the DPA 2018, you're missing about 80% of the legislation that relates to personal data processing in the UK - as the ICO tells you - "The ‘UK GDPR’ sits alongside an amended version of the DPA 2018".

@MLMshouldbeillegal

Also i've just remembered how extreme they are with this stuff... for years the PTA used to present every child leaving Primary with a secondary school tie and a dictionary. One of the mums who was really arty would use her calligraphy skills to write up little inserts for the dictionary with the child's first name and the date.

Even for this, after 7 years in the school, the parent had to go into the school and sit into the staff room to copy the (first names only) off a list. The list was not allowed to leave school. They were very, very strict about it.

For years I helped organise leavers T shirts with names on the back. The school helpfully sent a list of names which I would then copy and paste and send to the printers.

The last year they wouldn't send an electronic list so I had to type it in. I got each child to confirm their name was correct as a check when we went in to do sizing. Shirts came back with one forename wrong as I had swapped 2 letters round and neither I nor slightly dyslexic child had noticed...

They give first names at ours.

We had a list of first names only, no surnames or other identifying information. Helpful in my opinion, and no further information than would be available if you just asked your child (more reliable spellings than my child though!)

I'm a primary school teacher. I used to keep lists of first names only I could give out to parents IF they asked.
But this was teaching little ones... I didn't do it once I started teaching KS2.

GDPR is a nightmare for schools to navigate to be honest. In a previous schools they invested in lockable cupboards for storage of student exercise books, with spot checks that said cupboard was locked and no books (that weren't in use) were left out.........on the off chance that some unscrupulous individual might be wandering around (having got through the card pass doors and gate onto the site) and find out a child's name......

It is a GDPR issue if both name and surname. First name then it is not GDPR.

Even for a list of first names only - this can be considered to be personal data, depending on the circumstances and, if the school has determined that releasing it isn't necessary to fulfil a stated purpose, it would be breaching data protection law to do so.

Where in the GDPR regs does it say this?

@Pamsresearch

I spent ages creating the list myself when DS was in reception. I thought I knew all the children, but in a class of 28 I was missing one and only had 27 names.It took me hours to work out it was DS

Brilliant

Our class rep asked parents if they would like to be included on the class list. It was very helpful to be able to contact working parents who you didn't see at pick up time.

There’s no point arguing “it’s GDPR!” or “it’s not GDPR!”

GDPR can cover any processing of personal information. Personal information can cover anything by which you can be personally identified. So yes, that can include just first names, if your first name is unique enough that (in combination with other information, like the school you attend) you can be identified. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that can’t be shared. Some schools might judge sharing first names to be legitimate and others might not. Unless the specific issue actually got tested in the courts for some reason it’s a matter of judgement.

And some schools might judge there is no substantial additional safeguarding risk involved in providing a list of first names over and above that which exists in day to day life (eg Harry in his school uniform can be overheard talking about his class friend Rhameydinkia when he is in the supermarket queue with his mum).

We give out first names only if requested.

But this is readily available on their Seesaw accounts anyway - they can see the names (which we only enter as first names and surname initial) when looking at the blog pages on the app/site, along with a photograph of the child. The accounts and blog are password protected, and all families have given permission to be included on the website. We have just one child across school who can't have their photograph on the site, but their name is allowed.

So for us there is no GDPR issue.

Mind you, a lot of the children could generate their own class lists anyway, especially by year 1.

Most school offices have better things to do than figure out what is and isn't a breach of DP. If you sign a disclaimer to be included in lists and on social media etc you should be fine. Usually given out before you start in reception.
Otherwise, they've better things to worry about.

Mum of Darren banging on the window because you've confirmed that his name is indeed Darren, to his best friend's mum 🙄

Ask your kid who their friends are. Or use the nativity program- it has the cast list usually

Mine have left primary school now but the school would refuse to give out a list of names but a couple of weeks later you could have them all in the programme for the Christmas concert.

Oh god.

It's not 'against GDPR' if parents consent for their details to be shared. My kids have been through 3 schools to date and each has allowed us to tick a box saying it's fine for email and name to be circulated to other parents. Very simple.

Of course it's a good idea for all sorts of reasons.

Oh for gods sake really? They are kids names so other kids can send Christmas cards. Considering the cases of abuse and awfulness at home in the papers at the moment are kids more at risk because the parent of a child knows the full name of a classmate?!

My sons school has a lot of children with differently spelt names like Aleecah or Ammarrah so the teacher always gives a list of first names so they can alt least her names right as I hate having cards or any documents with kids names spelt wrong.

Cast list on nativity plays? Where do you guys live?! 😆😆😆

Handing out a list if everyone in the class including full names and addresses is NOT against GPRD. It would be against the rules if it was a list of people with a specific religion, political belief, or sexual preference. The schools in Britain have rules against giving out a class list because they want to guard against bullying and because they want issues about bullying to go over them.

@NotForSale

Cast list on nativity plays? Where do you guys live?! 😆😆😆

We had a cast list two but the nativity spans from reception right up to year 3.

@Fimofriend

Handing out a list if everyone in the class including full names and addresses is NOT against GPRD. It would be against the rules if it was a list of people with a specific religion, political belief, or sexual preference. The schools in Britain have rules against giving out a class list because they want to guard against bullying and because they want issues about bullying to go over them.

That isn’t true.