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Original poster

Being publically named at school for not doing a lateral flow test

42 replies

Lindy2 · 18/03/2021 14:00

Firstly I fully agree with lateral flow testing in school. However, DD12 can't test at the moment as unfortunately we all had Coronavirus in January and you shouldn't get tested for 90 days because of the risk of false positives.

I had conversations with the school regarding this before the children returned and they agreed that my DD should not test until the 90 days is up.

Yesterday though my DD tells me that she and a few others were named in class because they had not registered their online lateral test results. It wasn't a gentle reminder as she mentioned the word selfish had been said.

Clearly this teacher isn't aware of our situation but I'm somewhat shocked that individuals have been named (and shamed) like this at all.

DD has SEN and anxiety and was very stressed by this. She's already phoned me today panicking about something else which usually she might have been able to better cope with.

I'm not sure if I'm being over sensitive because, to be honest, we are all still mentally recovering from the horrible time we have been through as well as our physical recoveries. Surely though, testing information and results should be something that is kept confidential.

Has anyone else's school done anything similar?

OP posts:
LifesLittleDeciders · 18/03/2021 14:03

Ah I might be on my own here in some ways- but was the teacher who called the names out to know that she needs to wait 90 days?

I would want to know if I’m sitting next to somebody who is just deciding not to take a test that would ensure others safety. I wouldn’t want to sit next to that person if they didn’t give a shit about covid.

However, if they did have wind that your DD needs to wait the 90 days and has a legitimate reason not to test at the moment then I think that’s quite rude.

I would suggest DD (if she can, I know how it is with anxiety) speak up to that teacher or someone higher up and explain that it’s not fair to be called out when actually she’s doing her part to avoid false positives; it’s not as if she’s refusing she just taking the advise that is correct.

palacegirl77 · 18/03/2021 14:04

Have you spoken to the school about it? Thats really poor. What is happening to our poor kids at the moment is diabolical.

FlyingBurrito · 18/03/2021 14:07

The first step is to speak to the school for information on what was said, what their policy is, the teacher may have made a mistake, your child may have got the wrong end of the stick but you won't know until you open a disucssion with the school.

Does your DD understand why she isn't having a test?

LolaSmiles · 18/03/2021 14:07

Did the teacher say selfish, or did her peers?

I'd definitely speak to the school as someone should block off the required 90 days next to your child's name so she isn't being asked about it.

CovidPostingName · 18/03/2021 14:08

With SEN in the mix I would be ensuring they knew exactly how I felt about the issue - it's disgraceful singling out children and it's their job to know!

RedToothBrush · 18/03/2021 14:08

Isn't that a) against data protection b) effectively bullying by the school c) why did it need to be done publicly rather than privately? d) consent is only consent if it is not under duress - this is deeply coercive and unethical and undermines the concept of consent needing to be freely given - and I suspect if reported to the LEA would led to a rocket up the schools arse for it.

I would be wanting answers to these question direct from the head.

RestingPandaFace · 18/03/2021 14:09

I’m not normally one to get het up over privacy but I would speak to school as that’s unacceptable, especially if the kids were called selfish.

I get the frustration of teachers when they see families and pupils ignoring the rules and increasing the risk, but that sounds way over the top.

FlyingBurrito · 18/03/2021 14:12

@RedToothBrush

Isn't that a) against data protection b) effectively bullying by the school c) why did it need to be done publicly rather than privately? d) consent is only consent if it is not under duress - this is deeply coercive and unethical and undermines the concept of consent needing to be freely given - and I suspect if reported to the LEA would led to a rocket up the schools arse for it.

I would be wanting answers to these question direct from the head.

Do you always go into every situation with all guns blazing? Way to antagonise whoever you're dealing with Shock

Always better to start with fact finding that full blown attack surely?

Frazzled2207 · 18/03/2021 14:15

i'd also speak to the school. not on.

Wildswim · 18/03/2021 14:18

@RedToothBrush

Isn't that a) against data protection b) effectively bullying by the school c) why did it need to be done publicly rather than privately? d) consent is only consent if it is not under duress - this is deeply coercive and unethical and undermines the concept of consent needing to be freely given - and I suspect if reported to the LEA would led to a rocket up the schools arse for it.

I would be wanting answers to these question direct from the head.

Exactly.
RedToothBrush · 18/03/2021 14:18

Do you always go into every situation with all guns blazing? Way to antagonise whoever you're dealing with

If I've got a distressed child who felt the need to call home and private information had been broadcast to the rest of the class, hell yes.

Its not a small issue.

TheKeatingFive · 18/03/2021 14:19

This is appalling OP. Definitely speak to the school.

Newgirls · 18/03/2021 14:22

I’ve been doing tests in school. Teachers collect the kids from their room to take for testing. So any who aren’t having it are left behind. So it might be that?

Obvs I don’t know what happened with your child but not being tested does make them stand out which teens tend to hate.

HazelWitch · 18/03/2021 14:23

@RedToothBrush

Isn't that a) against data protection b) effectively bullying by the school c) why did it need to be done publicly rather than privately? d) consent is only consent if it is not under duress - this is deeply coercive and unethical and undermines the concept of consent needing to be freely given - and I suspect if reported to the LEA would led to a rocket up the schools arse for it.

I would be wanting answers to these question direct from the head.

I agree with this. The LFT testing has involved a breakdown/infringement of legal data protection regulations and medical ethics/confidentiality.

It should have been possible to run the LFT programme without infringing all these things. They are not mutually exclusive. The government/Dept of Health/Dept for Education had many weeks to properly prepare for this programme.

Medical tests need proper consent, proper confidentiality.

AdelaideK · 18/03/2021 14:23

That's terrible. I'd phone the school.

HazelWitch · 18/03/2021 14:25

The meaning of 'not compulsory' includes not forcing people to do things and there not being consequences of not doing things (e.g. public humiliation).

Very cruel teacher

PleaseReferToMeAsBritneySpears · 18/03/2021 14:25

DS also had covid in January and I emailed the school to ask about the 90 day thing. They agreed but still failed to publicise this policy.

I just told DS to make sure he told everyone it's because he's recently had covid that he's not testing. I agree though - if he wasn't prepared to divulge private info, I'd be really pissed off.

I'd probably email the office asking the teacher in question to be informed and leave it at that.

I hope you all make a complete recovery soon.

HazelWitch · 18/03/2021 14:27

Plus there are many reasons for not taking the tests - including taking them at home

If you taking the tests at home (and have told the school) it is super shitty to be publicly humiliated and scolded for being selfish.

Many pupils with healthcare professional parents are taking the tests at home (easier, safer, more qualified etc etc etc).

Some of this is just an excuse for people to be really shitty to other people's children.

Newgirls · 18/03/2021 14:27

By now most kids have done 3 tests and we are now moving to home tests so I can’t see this happening again

RedToothBrush · 18/03/2021 14:28

@PleaseReferToMeAsBritneySpears

DS also had covid in January and I emailed the school to ask about the 90 day thing. They agreed but still failed to publicise this policy.

I just told DS to make sure he told everyone it's because he's recently had covid that he's not testing. I agree though - if he wasn't prepared to divulge private info, I'd be really pissed off.

I'd probably email the office asking the teacher in question to be informed and leave it at that.

I hope you all make a complete recovery soon.

So needlessly upsetting a child who already has anxiety issues is unimportant and irrelevant?

Give over.

It needs to be properly flagged up as unacceptable, not just a 'minor ill informed error'.

It clearly wasn't. The intent was to coerce.

Original poster
Lindy2 · 18/03/2021 14:28

DD doesn't always get facts completely right but she told me the names of the other few children who were also called out on this, so they must have been named for her to know who they are.

I've sent DD in with a note explaining why she isn't testing and pointing out that the school is aware of this already. I've told her if she is questioned again by any teacher she needs to show them the note. She can't really speak up well, particularly when under pressure and the note will help her feel better prepared if anything like this occurs again.

I'll have to give the school a call (again).

OP posts:
FlyingBurrito · 18/03/2021 14:30

@RedToothBrush

Do you always go into every situation with all guns blazing? Way to antagonise whoever you're dealing with

If I've got a distressed child who felt the need to call home and private information had been broadcast to the rest of the class, hell yes.

Its not a small issue.

But you wouldn't know exactly what happened until you've spoken to the teacher, yes, the teacher may well have done the wrong thing but why does she not deserve a the courtesy of a calm discussion as the first step?

The DD phoned the OP about something else which even the OP says only may have been made worse by the test issue, you're putting your own story on top of what the OP has actually said

HazelWitch · 18/03/2021 14:30

Alarming how quickly and easily schools have breached CONFIDENTIALITY.

It would have been possible just to say some pupils have not done xyz and please could they do so if they need to.

No need to name names.

Just ignorance and bullying from people who are supposed to be intelligent and anti-bullying.

Original poster
Lindy2 · 18/03/2021 14:32

@Newgirls

By now most kids have done 3 tests and we are now moving to home tests so I can’t see this happening again
These are the home tests. The 3 in school tests have been done already. It was because her at home test wasn't logged on the system.
OP posts:
Original poster
Lindy2 · 18/03/2021 14:33

She obviously didn't do the at school tests either.

OP posts: