14yo odd quiz at school- do I complain

[Cornecopia]

My ds came home yesterday and said that he had to fill in an online form ( not just him the whole of his year) and the questions were- what is your sexual orientation, are you comfortable in your gender, have you had sexual experiences, have you ever sent or received inappropriate pictures.
I understand some questions are safeguarding views. But bloody hell the sexual orientation etc why on earth is that relevant to my sons schooling?? I just feel his privacy has been really invaded and he doesn’t know himself whether he’s is straight/gay or whatever- I did ask him if there was. ‘Prefer not to say’ option and he said yes but the teacher said not to use that!
I just don’t really know what to think about it all

To an extent.

You have to look at this from the point of view that if the data was hacked, could you identify someone from the data?

If you had data which said a 13yo male Muslim with two brothers, you could if you worked at the school probably identify the individual, but someone outside of the organisation would not be able to.

GDPR also has a lot of exclusions written into around government agencies, particularly around crime and health.

Linking it with medical records with an ID does make it identifiable, but I think they could probably use the above point to exclude themselves.

I take exception at these sort of questionnaires (couldn't see the relevance of being asked my sexual orientation when booking a covid jab), but it may be difficult to use GDPR against it.

Completely agree. If I'd been asked then, I wouldn't have known what to say. I'd fancied an older girl at school, then went on later to fancy boys.

(and what sexuality is it if you fancied the fox from the Robin Hood cartoon? :) )

GDPR also has a lot of exclusions written into around government agencies, particularly around crime and health.

which takes us to who is conducting this research? Who is the data controller? Is it a government agency or a university or commercial research team?

Pretty sure that teenagers have been fucking around with that survey for donkeys' years.

Beats me why they think any of it is accurate or reliable.

Oh, I know that many 14yos are having sex - but this not only legitimised and validates that, but is also highly inappropriate for the great many 14yos who wouldn't dream of having sex.

They wouldn't ask all of the children what their favourite illegal drugs are - going with the assumption that they all will be using them - would they?

As I said before, I'd have no issue with them asking whom they fancy or have a crush on - and this may well correspond with their actual sexuality when they're older - but asking what their 'sexual orientation' is, with the assumption that they will all have one - i.e. questioning them about sexual activity - is highly, highly inappropriate.

There may be kids who don't want to 'out' themselves yet as gay or bi. Or there may be some who are simply not sure yet.
I'd say at 14 not everyone would be comfortable discussing their sexuality with school. And the one about sexual experience? Surely people won't answer that honestly?
I think the nude images one is a safeguarding issue so I guess I understand that.
But they shouldn't be forced to label themselves a certain sexuality if they are not comfortable doing so.

I didn't. I realised I was gay aged 41. You speak for yourself.

Just because something is 'official' and widespread is no guarantee whatsoever that the people driving it are doing so from pure motives.

Kinsey perpetrated vile, horrific abuse on very young children under the guise of 'research into early sexual experience' - and he still has a large institute proudly bearing his name. It's like the equivalent of establishing a 'Jimmy Savile Institute'.