Page 2 | School and data protection

Ginandcolic · 2023-03-08T13:59:19+00:00

Hello all, I don't know if I'm being massively oversensitive and looking for reasons to get angry at DD's school or not. Quick background: DD (YR6) was bullied a few months ago - the school dealt with this well, put appropriate sanctions in place, have followed up with additional measures for the bully and checking in on DD. I'm not sure how much of this they would have done without me driving it but to be fair to them, they have responded to my concerns whenever raised. However, one of the teachers has a DC in DD's year (not same class) and has clearly accessed notes from conversations I've had with the school about the bullying and reflected them back in WhatsApp chats with me. We are not particularly close and neither are our kids. I know she may need to access data like that as part of her role but to use the detail of sensitive conversations out of context has really pissed me off. Today, the school has sent out an email to approx 50 parents from different year groups with everyone on cc rather than bcc. Both of these incidents have given me the rage and I do not know if it is reasonable to complain? I think I am just really angry about the clear use of private info about DD but this, compounded with the email fuck up is making me question their data protection / privacy policies. I work in a field where either of the above incidents would be a sackable offence - or at least one that would lead to huge disciplinary interventions - so again, this could be colouring my reaction. Would love some calm perspectives on this - should I complain about both / either incident? Or just go and have some tea and calm down!

babybythesea · 08/03/2023 15:04

But yes, she shouldn’t have said anything on WhatsApp. That’s not good.

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Ginandcolic · 08/03/2023 15:15

babybythesea · 08/03/2023 15:03

Just to say that this would be totally normal in my school too. Everybody is made aware of any ongoing issues between children. Especially lunch staff and TAs who are more likely to be supervising break times. It’s so if a child comes to you and says “Fred just called me an idiot/bumped into me” or whatever you can respond appropriately. If you think it’s a one off you might respond with ‘we don’t do that, do we Fred? Can you say sorry?’ or whatever the process is in your school. Which leads to “Harry’s bully pushed him again and he told the staff and they just asked Fred to say sorry, nothing else happened and I’m sick of it.” because you are unaware it’s part of a pattern.

On the other hand, knowing there is an issue puts you on alert. You watch to see where Fred is going, and whether he seems to be making his way deliberately towards Harry, and if so you can drift that way yourself and head things off before they happen. And if something does happen, you can deal with it properly in the context of an ongoing issue.

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This makes a lot of sense, thank you!

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Original poster

Ginandcolic · 08/03/2023 15:16

babybythesea · 08/03/2023 15:04

But yes, she shouldn’t have said anything on WhatsApp. That’s not good.

Thank you, really helpful. I also was just a bit confused, her DC was not involved in the bullying at all so I couldn't work out why she even got in touch. There didn't seem to be an agenda or even a point to the communication

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babybythesea · 08/03/2023 15:27

Ginandcolic · 08/03/2023 15:16

Thank you, really helpful. I also was just a bit confused, her DC was not involved in the bullying at all so I couldn't work out why she even got in touch. There didn't seem to be an agenda or even a point to the communication

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Speaking as someone who has a child at they same school I work in, I suppose it could be that she’s checking - if my child was involved I’d want to know because I’d read the riot act to her. And maybe she is worried that your child hasn’t mentioned hers because she’s a staff child? I know the kids at our school sometimes say “You won’t do anything because it’s your daughter.” (They’re right - in general we have a policy of not being involved in incidents involving your own child, so if they come to me, if there is another adult around I say “I can’t at the moment- can you go and tell Mrs X please?” It’s not because I don’t discipline my own child, it’s to ensure fairness so I don’t either let her off or (more likely) come down on her much harder than I would on another child).

I’m wondering if she’s trying to make absolutely sure that your daughter hasn’t kept quiet for fear of the teacher retaliating or something.

It doesn’t make it right but I know when something happens at school I am so tempted to go over and say “Is my child involved? What’s she done?” I also have many parents numbers etc. I just never put anything about the school on any social media. I want their numbers because if my child is at their house, I need to be able to get in touch with them. But it can be a very fine line to tread sometimes.

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Ginandcolic · 08/03/2023 15:40

babybythesea · 08/03/2023 15:27

Speaking as someone who has a child at they same school I work in, I suppose it could be that she’s checking - if my child was involved I’d want to know because I’d read the riot act to her. And maybe she is worried that your child hasn’t mentioned hers because she’s a staff child? I know the kids at our school sometimes say “You won’t do anything because it’s your daughter.” (They’re right - in general we have a policy of not being involved in incidents involving your own child, so if they come to me, if there is another adult around I say “I can’t at the moment- can you go and tell Mrs X please?” It’s not because I don’t discipline my own child, it’s to ensure fairness so I don’t either let her off or (more likely) come down on her much harder than I would on another child).

I’m wondering if she’s trying to make absolutely sure that your daughter hasn’t kept quiet for fear of the teacher retaliating or something.

It doesn’t make it right but I know when something happens at school I am so tempted to go over and say “Is my child involved? What’s she done?” I also have many parents numbers etc. I just never put anything about the school on any social media. I want their numbers because if my child is at their house, I need to be able to get in touch with them. But it can be a very fine line to tread sometimes.

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Very helpful to have insight into what it's like to be a teacher at your own DC's school, thank you.

Yes it could well have been something like you've suggested. It just seemed to be random but maybe she was trying to double check her child wasn't involved.

I don't have a problem with her having my number as we're all on the group WhatsApp, it's just using it in what came across as a weird way but maybe she was just checking up on DC, albeit clumsily. Thank you!

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babybythesea · 08/03/2023 16:30

Ginandcolic · 08/03/2023 15:40

Very helpful to have insight into what it's like to be a teacher at your own DC's school, thank you.

Yes it could well have been something like you've suggested. It just seemed to be random but maybe she was trying to double check her child wasn't involved.

I don't have a problem with her having my number as we're all on the group WhatsApp, it's just using it in what came across as a weird way but maybe she was just checking up on DC, albeit clumsily. Thank you!

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I don’t know of course. I’m just trying to think of possible reasons. I still don’t think it’s a good idea. If I was genuinely worried I’d probably try and speak to you in person rather than bring it up where everyone else can read it. And she may have another reason entirely. But no, WhatsApp groups are not the place. Especially if there’s a risk of something being out there that shouldn’t be. Just because every staff member at s school knows something, doesn’t stop it being confidential. That sort of thing is on a need to know basis. Staff members do need to know. Parents don’t.

PuttingDownRoots · 08/03/2023 16:43

We lived in a small community for a few years, and teachers and parents were friends outside of school... but there was a very clear boundary and rule... School was School, Home was Home (although we had the extra complication of DD2s teacher being DD1s best friend mother!). All school based communication went through official channels, all Home communication was on personal channels. It was basic Safeguarding.

Email mistake has been covered.

Lonelyplanet · 08/03/2023 17:22

I'm assuming parents rather than the school have organised the WhatsApp group.

It is difficult to balance being a teacher and parent at the same school. However, if you are not friends socially, I think her contacting you directly about a personal school issue on social media is over stepping boundaries.

I'm surprised a teacher would want to be in a whole year group WhatsApp group at a place she works. Especially if there are more than one class in the year group. Our staff would avoid anything like this, as there are usually a few of parents who can be very unpleasant. Most teachers would not want a large group of parents to have their personal number; they could then be contacted 24/7.

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Ginandcolic · 09/03/2023 10:22

Thanks all for your thoughts, much appreciated.

The email issue has now been sorted - it was someone helping out to support admin colleagues with their workload so more a case of trying to do a favour but getting it horribly wrong.

The teacher / parent WhatsApp issue is still vexing me. I think I might just bring it up with the person in question next time I see her (which will be this week) as your comments have made me wary of assuming too much about her intention.

I don't want to wade in with an official complaint if the intention was good but I also do want to raise it as it's left me feeling uncomfortable

Thanks again for your perspectives - really helpful xx

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