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AIBU?

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Original poster

Reception children on teachers TikTok

97 replies

zingally · 08/10/2025 09:46

This isn't my issue as such... It's happened to a close friend, and I said I'd ask on here... ;)

So... I was scrolling on TikTok yesterday morning and my attention is immediately caught by my best friends 4yo DD, who has just started Reception. She was sitting on a bench/log with about 5 other children, all in their school uniforms, watching their teachers dance around in Elsa/Anna costumes. All the children then shake their heads and smile in a very choreographed way. In another part of the video, one of the same teachers is doing a forward roll, with a little boy standing watching. The joke is that they're "performing" for the children and wanting them to judge their efforts.

I go and look at the channel itself. There are about 20 videos, of which about 15 feature the children. Most of that 15 are "this is what we did in class today" type videos, but some, like the one I first saw, are basically just meme videos of the teachers dicking around, with the kids in supporting roles. The school itself is named in the bio of the channel, and the school logo is their user-pic.

Speaking as a teacher myself, I'm pretty go with the flow. But I was shocked by this. This seems like a huge mis-step. To be using the children, during learning hours, to feature in silly meme-style tiktok videos... And to prominently feature the name of the school to the world... Seems like a huge safeguarding red flag.

My friend is pretty upset to see her little child on social media like this. She did give permission for her DD to appear in social media when they joined the school. But she assumed that meant things like a school FB or X account.
She wants it taken down/the children removed, but as an ex-teacher herself, understands how young teachers can make mistakes and doesn't want to get anyone else into big trouble.

I'm unsure how to advise her. Any script ideas for what she can say/do?

OP posts:
SweetHydrangea · 08/10/2025 12:29

zingally · 08/10/2025 10:39

Don't know why you're getting arsey with me. I feel the same! But wanted to get a ballpark opinion BEFORE I email the headteacher.
As a general rule, I don't set out to potentially ruin other teachers careers on a whim. But if others agree that a major no-no has been committed, which my gut tells me it has, then of course I'm ready and willing to whistleblow.
But I think being level-headed and thinking it through goes a long way!

Show quote history

Why would you be emailing the headteacher if you live the other side of the country and have no affiliation with the school? If your friend is that concerned she should do it herself.

To be honest this whole post just sounds like you are trying to getting these teachers in the shit because you ‘don’t agree’. Not nice OP.

It’s on the school social media account and your friend has given permission for social media use - I’m sure there are plenty of children who are not shown in the videos because their parents didn’t allow it. Appreciate she thought it would be Facebook and not Tik Tok, so in that case she just needs to withdraw her permission. Asking them to delete the video if she’s given permission is ridiculous. She needs to take it as a lesson learnt and move on. You need to stay out of it!

Also, I don’t really agree with the content by what you have described, it sounds a bit stupid and I wouldn’t expect to see it personally but this might be how they build rapport with the kids etc, who knows. I certainly wouldn’t be taking it upon myself to try and get these teachers in trouble, especially when it’s not your child involved, they have permission to post and they aren’t doing anything dangerous/safeguarding issues.

ImthatBoleyngirl · 08/10/2025 12:34

As a PP has said, social media will include anything online, so TikTok, Instagram, FB etc. Just out of interest, why is FB ok but Tik Tok isn't?

CatamaranViper · 08/10/2025 12:45

OP you need to clarify if the account is a school account or a personal one. There seems to be many posters responding based on the idea it's a personal one, but your OP implies (to me) that it's a school one.

My school has a policy that the SM accounts featuring the school name and logo can only be created by me (SBM) and maintained by me, so teachers send me things they want me to post and I vet it all. If we found a SM account created and maintained by any other staff member, they would face disciplinary.

Ladamesansmerci · 08/10/2025 12:48

I just think there's a massive difference between a snapshot of a group of kids doing their work at a desk on FB to advertise the school work ethic or etc (which I think is what most parents would imagine they are consenting to), Vs filming children for silly tiktok videos. Consent should be informed, and if that's what the school are doing, they should be explicit about it in the photography consent forms.

The other aspect is whether this is an official school account, or whether it's someone's personal account. If it's the latter, they will end up with a disciplinary.

sundaychairtree · 08/10/2025 12:51

FuzzyWolf · 08/10/2025 12:01

But are these children viewing TikTok because there isn’t an age limit to be filmed for uploads, just to view them.

Given the parents have given social media consent it comes down to whether it’s a school or personal account. If it’s a school account then it is no different to any other social media platform and if parents don’t like it, they need to withdraw consent.

Show quote history

She Was NOT STRUCK OFF. She was dismissed and took her employer to a tribunal for unfair dismissal. If you look at thse actual hearing rsthsr than misleading news reports
She was dismissed for many things including lots of time off sick, for teaching a lesson about her own ectopic pregnancy without following due process, for contacting a student during g school holidays. The video was filmed on a school ipad and not even uploaded to tik tok. Its only relevance to the case was that she didnt log the students' discussion of their use of tik tok on CPOMS. But that was very peripheral to the case, and wholly irrelevant to the thread at hand.

NoSoapJustUseShowerGel · 08/10/2025 12:52

mindutopia · 08/10/2025 12:20

Bonkers. Consent for use of images in photos and video will cover the school’s public accounts. Not some teacher’s private social media.

We are strictly forbidden as parents at our school from posting anything with other children besides our own on social media. I imagine most schools have this policy. A teacher should absolutely not be posting images of children to personal social media accounts. When do they even bloody have time for choreographed TikTok dances. Most teachers are on their asses with work.

And yes, I’d put it in writing direct to HT and DSL. That teacher probably needs to be fired.

Edited

It’s not a personal account, it’s the school account! I still think those type of videos are inappropriate and not what parents give consent for, though.

MaplePumpkin · 08/10/2025 12:56

CatamaranViper · 08/10/2025 12:45

OP you need to clarify if the account is a school account or a personal one. There seems to be many posters responding based on the idea it's a personal one, but your OP implies (to me) that it's a school one.

My school has a policy that the SM accounts featuring the school name and logo can only be created by me (SBM) and maintained by me, so teachers send me things they want me to post and I vet it all. If we found a SM account created and maintained by any other staff member, they would face disciplinary.

I was coming here to say the same thing!

if the profile photo on the account is the schools logo, and it’s filled with videos of the teachers and children, it sounds like a school account. Perhaps just run by the named teacher on it? And she is in most of the content because it’s her responsibility to run it?

Our school has fb, Insta and tiktok and it’s run by one teacher. The idea is all the other teachers send him content to upload, but the majority of things on there are him and his class, naturally.

Obeseandashamed · 08/10/2025 13:14

HugelyExpensiveCrystalDuck · 08/10/2025 10:49

In the tribunal on the teacher who was struck off, she was condemned for not telling safeguarding that nine year olds were using TikTok when you are supposed to the thirteen to use it. The teacher didn’t even upload it, she just recorded the children for TikTok.

“On the last day of term, pupils in the Claimant’s class wanted to show her a TikTok
dance. The Claimant agreed and said would teach them the dance version as she
used to be a dance teacher. They asked the Claimant if she would record it and
she agreed to do so on the School’s iPad. The video was not uploaded onto any
social media site. It was evident that the children had been viewing Tik Tok but the
Claimant made no further inquiries of them, nor did she report it as a safeguarding
concern because they were underage (13 being the legal age)”

Show quote history

Also having read the excerpt you posted the difference is the teacher didn’t report that the children were using TikTok. The children aren’t using TikTok in the above- they’re being recorded and posted which is different.

FuzzyWolf · 08/10/2025 13:36

sundaychairtree · 08/10/2025 12:51

She Was NOT STRUCK OFF. She was dismissed and took her employer to a tribunal for unfair dismissal. If you look at thse actual hearing rsthsr than misleading news reports
She was dismissed for many things including lots of time off sick, for teaching a lesson about her own ectopic pregnancy without following due process, for contacting a student during g school holidays. The video was filmed on a school ipad and not even uploaded to tik tok. Its only relevance to the case was that she didnt log the students' discussion of their use of tik tok on CPOMS. But that was very peripheral to the case, and wholly irrelevant to the thread at hand.

Show quote history

Not sure why you are shouting at me about it when I was pointing out that it’s not the same scenario as one is showing underage children TikTok clips and the other is posting a video on TikTok with parental consent.

Ohmygodthepain · 08/10/2025 15:32

Is
It
A
School
Account?

If so, is it appropriate content or teachers dicking about? As a parent and with the latter, I would be mortified and my thoughts would be 'would Ofsted approve?' If not, it needs reporting anyway for being inappropriate and the school and HT should be questioned as to their opinion of professional conduct under part 2.

If it's a personal account, EVEN IF the school is named in the bio, then it absolutely needs reporting. Publishing kids faces, names(?) and school info into the www on a teacher's personal account is a HUGE no-no and worthy of a professional bollocking at the very least.

Original poster
zingally · 08/10/2025 17:56

To be honest, it's a bit unclear whether it's a school account or a personal account.
I won't out them specifically, but the name of the account is along the lines of "funinEYFS". But the user-pic is the school logo, and if you go into the accounts home page it says "Early Years in XYZ Primary School".
It could be argued either way as to whether it's "official" or not. I visited the school website, and the only social media it advertises on there is a FB page.

Both my friend and I will email the school. Her as a parent, and me as an experienced teacher. If this content is being pushed out to me, a stranger 100 miles away, who else is getting the inside scoop on this school?

Anyway, again, thanks for all the useful, thought-provoking comments. I think I've heard all the opinions I need. Apologies for the slow reply this afternoon. I was literally in the classroom doing my job. And my phone was in my bag, in the cupboard, where it should be. :)

OP posts:
Annony331 · 08/10/2025 18:08

Have a conversation with SLT. Not all schools have policies about personal use. Not all colleges do staff DBS checks.
They all vary

CatamaranViper · 08/10/2025 18:45

zingally · 08/10/2025 17:56

To be honest, it's a bit unclear whether it's a school account or a personal account.
I won't out them specifically, but the name of the account is along the lines of "funinEYFS". But the user-pic is the school logo, and if you go into the accounts home page it says "Early Years in XYZ Primary School".
It could be argued either way as to whether it's "official" or not. I visited the school website, and the only social media it advertises on there is a FB page.

Both my friend and I will email the school. Her as a parent, and me as an experienced teacher. If this content is being pushed out to me, a stranger 100 miles away, who else is getting the inside scoop on this school?

Anyway, again, thanks for all the useful, thought-provoking comments. I think I've heard all the opinions I need. Apologies for the slow reply this afternoon. I was literally in the classroom doing my job. And my phone was in my bag, in the cupboard, where it should be. :)

That sounds exactly like a school account considering the name, picture and bio, plus the content.
I'm not sure how it's ambiguous? Unless you think this teacher has set this up without the schools knowledge and permission

VikaOlson · 08/10/2025 18:51

zingally · 08/10/2025 17:56

To be honest, it's a bit unclear whether it's a school account or a personal account.
I won't out them specifically, but the name of the account is along the lines of "funinEYFS". But the user-pic is the school logo, and if you go into the accounts home page it says "Early Years in XYZ Primary School".
It could be argued either way as to whether it's "official" or not. I visited the school website, and the only social media it advertises on there is a FB page.

Both my friend and I will email the school. Her as a parent, and me as an experienced teacher. If this content is being pushed out to me, a stranger 100 miles away, who else is getting the inside scoop on this school?

Anyway, again, thanks for all the useful, thought-provoking comments. I think I've heard all the opinions I need. Apologies for the slow reply this afternoon. I was literally in the classroom doing my job. And my phone was in my bag, in the cupboard, where it should be. :)

What makes you think it isn't a school account?

Mumdiva99 · 08/10/2025 19:07

Blimey - why on your high horses.
Parent has given social media permission.
Child is on social media.
Schools have to work hard to advertise these days. Facebook is only used by old people like me. We can't reach the young parents with Facebook. The youngsters are on tiktok.

What specifically is the safeguarding risk?

MaplePumpkin · 08/10/2025 20:07

I think, from your description, it’s very clear it IS a school account. I don’t know why you ever thought it wasn’t?

VikaOlson · 08/10/2025 22:38

Weirdly the video of the kids and the teacher in the Elsa dress just came up on Instagram for me!
It's definitely a school account, not a personal account - it's named for the school, features only the staff and children in the school building etc.
Your friend agreed to her child being shown on social media so I can't see the teacher/school has done anything wrong.

bluegreygreen · 09/10/2025 11:57

Don't have TikTok - can you limit your viewers as you can for Facebook?

If it's an official school account, I would have expected the video to be limited to parents, not be seen by a friend 100 miles away

VikaOlson · 09/10/2025 12:11

bluegreygreen · 09/10/2025 11:57

Don't have TikTok - can you limit your viewers as you can for Facebook?

If it's an official school account, I would have expected the video to be limited to parents, not be seen by a friend 100 miles away

School social media accounts are marketing so they are shared publicly.

Bobbieiris · 09/10/2025 12:33

I can’t believe this….the parents haven’t given consent? Surely the trashed should lose their job for this? Seems like such a breach of privacy. Also messing about when they should be doing their job

VikaOlson · 09/10/2025 13:58

Bobbieiris · 09/10/2025 12:33

I can’t believe this….the parents haven’t given consent? Surely the trashed should lose their job for this? Seems like such a breach of privacy. Also messing about when they should be doing their job

OP says the parents gave permission:
She did give permission for her DD to appear in social media when they joined the school.

CinnamonBuns67 · 09/10/2025 14:18

I personally would go to school and say you didn't realise "social media" included this TikTok page that you now withdraw permission for any social media and you expect all videos that include your child to be deleted off this TikTok within 24 hours or you'd be speaking to the headteacher. I would keep an eye on the social media as I never gave permission for my child to be on social media at her previous school and every now and again they'd "forget" they didn't have parental consent and post her on FB and on X or sometimes after I pulled them up on it several time then wouldn't post it on FB but posted her on X where I couldn't see as I didn't have an X account but my friend told me as she saw pictures of my DD and I had to join X to keep an eye on it.

Superhansrantowindsor · 09/10/2025 14:23

I guess if you agreed to kids being on social media then you can’t complain but absolutely no way would I want my child involved in this.

Lulu1919 · 09/10/2025 15:18

Was it a school,or school year group Tik Tock or her personal account ?

babyproblems · 09/10/2025 15:20

I’d report this to the school even if it wasn’t my child or my child at the school. This is a huge mistake surely!!!