Should I ask to be added to the WhatsApp group?

[thisdayandthenext]

I am on my PGCE placement at the moment, all the staff at the school on a WhatsApp group where information is shared amongst staff. I was speaking to a friend and she advised me to ask politely if I can join the group but I feel uncomfortable doing this as I’m not a member of staff at the school and I just don’t think it’s something that I should expect to be added to.

Am I right in what I am thinking?

No I certainly wouldn’t ask

Our trainee teachers and supply teachers etc are always invited to join. The teacher who admins the group makes a point of it to make any new staff feel welcome. A new teacher (long term supply, he'll be with us until Easter at least) started last Monday and was put in the group on Wednesday.

Pizza outings and general chit chat aside, you probably aren't missing out on much, though I think it helps to get a feel of people when you see/read them when they're off duty as it were.

Obviously the WA group is nothing to do with the official communications, the only time school stuff is mentioned really is when there are tech problems and someone writes on the group to put a call out for help or when there are general things about schools in the news people put links etc.

At secondary? I've been teacher 18;years and at various schools and never had this. We have WhatsApp groups various staff members have set up. So for example, one for my department. It doesn't seem very professional to me? I can imagine a small primary communicating that way as presumably it's less formal as headteacher is working with a much smaller number if staff.

OP. You've had lots of good advice. I hope you've decided not to ask .

My quote didn't work. That was to @LondonQueen.

@user1471530109

My quote didn't work. That was to *@LondonQueen*.

Yes sorry I'm primary school, so it may be a little alien in secondary's. I suppose there would probably be too many people to have a whole staff group too!

@user1471530109

I'm in a small primary and that's exactly how we do it and for the same reason. Quicker to text four people than email to be honest. We wouldn't add students to it though. We're in charge of passing on relevant information.
Some of it would be inappropriate, IE talking about rearranging an assembly because someone has an appointment. The student only needs to know it's been rearranged.

Nah PGCE students don’t get added to the WhatsApps. You’ll be told anything you need to know.

@Whatsonmymindgrapes

Nah PGCE students don’t get added to the WhatsApps. You’ll be told anything you need to know.

Except in some schools they are.