To be concerned that a Mum from another class is still in our class WhatsApp group?

[ImageNet]

DC's in reception and at the start of the year I noticed a number in the class WhatsApp group whose name I didn't recognise. I assumed it was possibly a grandparent of one of DC's classmates, Anyway, I also felt it was a bit busybody-like to look into it especially as I'm not even a class rep so left it. Fast forward five months and after I posted in the group offering some items for a school activity, the mysterious number messaged me asking if I could pass them one. I joked that I hadn't met them yet and they said that their child is in one of the other Reception classes. I'm not sure what to make of it as although our class WhatsApp isn't very active, some parents do post photos of their children after a party and to me it just feels weird (with privacy concerns) that this mum is still in a class WhatsApp group when her DC isn't in it. My question is: is it something I should mention to a class rep as she's been in the group for almost half a year already. WWYD? AIBU to mention it to a class rep?

My oldest is in year 5. That's now 5 and a half years of zero drama but a lot of helpful reminders about stuff, some children's party invitations, some grown-up drinks invitations, some recommendations for local tradesmen and just general nice things.

I’ve never experienced any drama whatsoever on a class WhatsApp in three schools in two countries. Useful for ‘DS can’t read his own handwriting for the maths homework page number’ and ‘I don’t suppose your DC came home with an extra water bottle?’ type posts, and having parents’ numbers to arrange play dates or birthday parties. Sometimes nothing for weeks at a time, and certainly not pinging all the time even at their busiest, or I’d have muted and just checked periodically.

This.

I'm in old chats. Hate them- don't want added in the first place and I haven't gone in and removed myself either. Didn't think to. I just don't take much notice of them. With 4 kids and a job I'm just too busy for these multiple chats.

You’re not swapping classified information with MI5 agents. It’s a class group chat.

But literally no one is ‘chatting’. There might be an occasional homework question, or someone saying ‘Would you mind checking to see if your DC came home with someone else’s PE shorts?’ and then nothing for a fortnight.

I think some people have real issues with control. “Oh I wouldn’t like that” - oh well. Sit with your discomfort then.

Even he is shaking his head

We've got one for the year group and always have across 4 different schools. I imagine if there's one per class it's actually probably useful to have some crossover so events or announcements aren't missed.

Ours do loads!

Here is just some of what ours do:

• send a reminder message every Sunday of what's happening the following week at school
• they send ad hoc reminders (e.g. forest school, dress down days, school trips etc)
• meet termly with the headmistress and other class reps.
• copy and paste all school e-mails and text messages into the whats app chat to make sure that everyone sees them.
• arrange Mums termly coffee mornings and occasional nights out.
• organise christmas gifts and end-of-school-year gifts for class teachers, teaching assistants, headmistress, deputy head, receptionists and lolly pop lady.
• arrange ad hoc gifts e.g. if a teacher/teaching assistant is going on maternity/paternity leave.
• attend termly parent consultations and provide feedback (which is particularly useful for any parents who couldn't attend).

To the OP,
I personally wouldn't worry about it at all and it wouldn't bother me in the slightest. We have a Mum in our whats app group whose daughter has moved school! The family still live in the same village though, so we still see them all the time.

Wow, I never leave groups. As if you really cared enough to get them kicked out

i think some people have too much time on their hands.

there is no privacy in group chats over the internet.

I thought this tbh.

That's chatter to me. Mine are often filled with "what did you think about the school saying this" "has anyone heard that a dog was pooing in the playground". "We will be at the park after school if anyone wants to join". It's just not for me. Each to their own.

No drama on any of ours either so far and I’ve got children now in high school where class WhatsApp groups don’t exist.
They were just used for ‘don’t forget pe today’ etc but a friend said she came off the one for her child’s school because someone was always kicking off about something on there 😬

I think you are making a mountain out of a molehill. I have been on another class whatsap group and just did not think to take myself off....I find it odd that you are looking so closely at the whatsap group and who each and every person is on it. I have been on many whatsap group over the years with 3 kids and never know every single number on the lists.....

😂

Same. To me this is the same sort of lazy misogyny that insists that all mums at the school gate are cliquey.

Some people find a class Whatsapp helpful, some don't. Assuming they're all full of drama just makes a person sound like an idiot.

Christ i couldn't get worried up about this
In fact ones if the mums on my school WhatsApp moved to Cornwall 18 months ago she's still in the group and noone cares to throw her out

This sounds fucking terrible id never be it one

YANBU

I'd be speaking to the admin and getting them out if possible

I'm not in a class whataspp and wouldnt join one either.

I wouldn't be concerned. They're part of the school community and have a child your age. What is there to be concerned about? A role of the dice could have had her child in your class...

It depends on the group. There can be loads of drama on some and none on others. Depends on the characters involved. I'm a teacher. You know when they're up to something as you'll get loads of notes in about the same thing that is clearly worrying the ringleader parent who has roused the troops. I also have friends and family that find some parents constantly have issues with their child's teacher and are looking for support in dealing with the 'issue' and they're just trying to keep out of it as their kids haven't noticed any of the crimes their teacher has been accused of.
Some groups are purely informative and others are rabble rousing. It's very dependent on the parents involved.

Oh my Christ, get a hobby or a job. Even reading this made me feel claustrophobic.

Surely this isn't something to fret over?! I have a number of whatsapp groups that I've muted and forgotten about.

It's so, so unlikely that a school mum who no longer had a kid in a particular class being on an old whatsapp group (for her) could result in anything sinister. Fair enough to be concerned if a bunch of randoms joined that didn't have kids at the school, but this seems silly if you know who the mum is!

Why are you in a WhatsApp group if you have privacy concerns? If you want to know why she's in your group, ask her. Problem solved without second guessing her motives.