To ask school to remove photos

[WillowCraft]

We decided not to put any photos of our children on social media until they are old to enough to consent to it themselves. We don't have them on our facebook pages and have asked family not to either. The reasons for this are privacy mainly, although there is also a safety aspect - though this is not the main concern.

My son started school last week and I requested no photos on social media or the school website. Now the school have posted several pictures of my son on Facebook - they are taken from behind or the side so don't show his face but it's still recognisably him as several people have commented to me. The photos are of a small number of children - 2 or 3 - not as part of a larger group.

I feel they shouldn't have done this and feel inclined to ask them to take the pictures down - however unfortunately this school is constantly putting stuff on Facebook - the whole of last year's reception class were on there most weeks, often with their work and their name showing. I am worried that if I say no pictures that my son will feel singled out and will never be picked for anything - he will never get a leading role in the school play for example, and will have to stand to the side every time they take photos - which is at least weekly.

I do think the amount they post on facebook is completely inappropriate, I would be happy with photos on a password protected page visible only to parents but not open to the public. I would be less happy but ok with occasional photos as part of a large group on SM. I really hate the idea that anyone who wants can track my child's progress through primary school!

Has anyone experienced similar and what did you do?

I think you are right that he will be the kid who has to step out while pics are taken, and that will be miserable for him and much worse than a pic of the back of his head being on fb.

How easily the child would be recognised isn't the main point (however, people banned from contact with children can be VERY persistent in their hunts).

The point is the school don't have permission to have the child in photos online.

That's the line. Allowed or not allowed. Not individual school staff deciding what isn't and isn't acceptable in terms of recognisability or otherwise.

If a school doesn't take GDPR seriously then I would be concerned about other processes it should follow.

It wouldn't be allowed in my Trust schools

My eldest dd is old enough to have her own opinions about pics of sm, and she absolutely loves the photos she got from her primary school, which they uploaded on to a usb for her when she left. I think she'd be sad if we'd decided to stop the pics being taken.

Why aren't ofsted immediately visiting all these emoji face using schools then if it's a breach? Surely that would be a nice quick easy inspection to do?

Im with you OP. One or two photos of the class/a group per term fine. Lots of photos every week = not fine. Even if it isnt their faces. You asked for your child not to be online/on social media and they've already breached that. Id have a word tbh.

You think Ofsted visit a school immediately when there might be an issue?😂😂😂

You've got a lot to learn!

Unless your child has 3 heads and 7 arms (something that means he really will stand out against the rest of the world's population), I really struggle to understand the issue. A photo of the back of him, identifiable to a few close friends who know what school he goes to, what class he is in, and what he looks, is hardly the same as being identifiable to others.

I think the wishes of the parents should be respected - interestingly the number of children's parties where pictures are share on the internet does make we wonder however how it is possible to ensure that other photos are shared. I don't think it right for anyone other than a parent to share a picture online and I must admit that I do not put any pictures of my children online.

This thread is like one of those threads where someone has a standard key/keyhole and all the yale lock people can't understand the concept of needing a key to unlock your door from the inside.

All 3 of my sons would be identifiable from any angle, their build and hair length etc makes them unique.
It's not about whether a photo can be used as a direct form of identification, like to be handed out as a missing person's mugshot, it's whether they could be recognised by people who know of them.
People think nothing of 'Facebook stalking' people now just to have a nosy that many wouldn't consider it intrusive.

I love how you are deliberately missing my point every time😂
I am playing devil's adovate a little in this thread in order to expose a few very polarised views.
I assure you I know exactly what I am talking about.

Unfortunately he will miss out on things.
My kids love looking at pictures of themselves.
When I was little I remember my mum saving pictures of me a my siblings in the paper.
I was talking to a teenager the other day because I posted something I was proud of my child doing on social media and lots of people has congratulated her. The teenager (15) said my mum never did that, she wasn't proud of me. She went on to say how invisible she was at school because she was never in any photos. It really effected her self-esteem.
If your child is at school they must be at least 4 why not ask them how they feel. My children understand photos at this age and your post doesn't suggest there's any safe guarding to worry about.

Why would you bother playing devil's advocate on a thread that's really simple?

Schools either have permission or they don't.

Slight sidetrack from the OP, but I’d be interested to know if teachers are allowed to opt out of their image on social platforms? Or is it such an expected part of the job these days, that they really can’t object to it?

You can't have it both ways, if you don't want your child in pictures at all well he needs to stand to the side everytime there's a photo, I like seeing pictures of my children at school doing things they enjoy. I don't believe they are any more likely to be kidnapped because school put their picture on twitter, we walk to school the same route, unless I put a bag over their head people can see which school they go to and what they look like, in reality that's far more risky than a picture on twitter.

Completely remove consent, but don't complain about them being sidelined and be prepared for when it comes to the leaving montage slideshow, your child will be nowhere to be seen.

Gosh! I don’t think I’d like them posting on Facebook at all… our school doesn’t allow any parents to post on social media at all. They require permission to have photos just taken for their own purpose, and if not everyone agrees then no photos are taken st events even. There are some photos obviously with permission on their website and in school newsletters etc and on tapestry a platform shared by parents, I would be asking them to remove. I can’t believe they did when you said no

I have worked with teachers who haven't had photos on the school social media, or on the board of staff photos (quite a few schools I worked in had photos of most of the staff up in reception).

OK, to be direct, their main purpose it to ensure standards are maintained across an educational establishment. One area of non-compliance, especially in teaching standards would not, in itself trigger an inspection, especially as safeguarding should be monitored by the LSGB. But when an inspection takes place, an inspector has to be assured of standards in all areas inspected. Non-compliance could cause an inspection team to dig deeper into processes.

....and there is a huge backlog in inspections....and they don't have the man power.

Direct enough for you?

To discuss the potential grey area which is clear from this thread.
Many of us have experience of seeing children with emojis covering them as a way of making them not identifiable.
People say its a breach. People say it isn't.
I'd happily read a
an ofsted report that fails a school for its safeguarding because of its use.

If the parent feels the child is still identifiable they can say take it down. They'll do that and won't take a picture again and then that's the problem solved.

@TTCnewbies your lack of regard for safeguarding as a Brownie leader is absolutely shocking. If I knew who you were I would report you to Girlguiding. You do understand that parents aren’t being awkward in refusing consent for photos? And that maybe the children are fostered or adopted or fleeing domestic abuse, for example?

All 3 of my sons would be identifiable from any angle, their build and hair length etc makes them unique
I get that you like to think so, but I sincerely doubt it's true.

Some people do refuse for reasons other than your examples, actually.

This, in spades… unless you are raising baby Yoda and in such case yes, the back of the head will be identifiable as he is already a recognisable celebrity.

I'v consented to pictures of my DC because they go in a newsletter (parents only), and a very small number on the website. They aren't allowed to be posted publicly with their name. I'd be a little put out if they suddenly started posting loads on a public Facebook page (I'm shocked it's not private). Say something if you're not happy. You've set your boundary and they've crossed it.

Imo some people don't take internet safety serious enough. I follow someone on Instagram and she reposts photos of her kids that have been uploaded on to a public account by the school. Consequently I know exactly where those kids go to school. It's scary really.

Do you know many 11 year old boys built like a brick shed, with waist length curly hair?