Private school plumbs new depths

[Lemonsole]

Well. I have browsed many a thread here about the depths that Queen Ethelburger's school/faculty/college will go to in the quest for pupils.

Here I am, one of the people least likely ever to use a private school, and today they sent me a mail shot.

My jaw hit the deck when I saw inside it a list, by full name, of their leavers, together with their university destination and course, and full A level results.

Would anyone here ever send their DC to a school that sent that information out to randoms? Really? Here is my email to them, but I am wondering whether I should also report them elsewhere. Has any other Guardian-reading southerners been sent this rubbish?



I am horrified that you have mail shot me. My children are far too important to me to take the risk of educating them in any school that needs to send out mail shots to people who have never expressed any interest in your school.

However, as a teacher and parent, I am even more horrified that you sent the names, A-level grades and current university of your leavers in a mailing. This alone shows me that you have no respect for the personal data of your pupils and show scant regard for the most basic safeguarding procedures. You can show destinations without names, you know. Any good school or college can do this. 

Do not contact me again. I am a member of the mailing preference service. Do not pass my data on to any other organisation. The reference on your envelope was jhjhjhjhjhjhjhjhj Please confirm my email that you have deleted my details and that they will not be passed on. I would also be interested to know where you got my address from.

[breatheslowly]

I do tick the "no junk mail" box when ever I notice it. I blame "Not on the High Street" as I am in a battle with them not to get junk after ordering off a wedding gift list on their website.

[prh47bridge]

As others have said, many schools, both state and independent, publish this information. In Data Protection terms it makes no difference whether they publish it in the local paper or give it to parents at an open evening.

This school (like many others) requires parents and pupils to agree that any information may be used or disseminated as the school deems necessary. Agreeing to the terms and conditions therefore qualifies as giving consent.

It is, of course, open to any pupil who objects to refer the matter to the ICO and claim that the school did not have proper consent as they could not refuse consent and continue to attend the school (I don't know if this is actually true - it may be that the school will allow individuals to opt out of this particular part of their terms and conditions). I presume that either this has not yet happened for this school or any of the other schools following this practise, or that the ICO rejected any complaint.

[Lemonsole]

I tick all of the "do not send me crap or pass my details to anyone who might send me crap" boxes with a fervour that verges on the religious.

Do people seriously accept this as a condition of entrusting their child genius to a school? What a way to treat your customers.

[Lemonsole]

@breatheslowly - she could enjoy the plasma screen in every bedroom.

[sybilwibble]

I got that too. Found it very useful, as it made it very clear the results from my DC's school were much better than theirs!

[annh]

Did they email the entire country? I also received that mailshot but threw it in the bin without even reading. We live nowhere near the school and I don't even have girls, no idea where they got my details.

[iseenodust]

No, must be clearly targetted as we haven't got one.
Oh, hang on, ours will come later as an insert in the weekly freebie newspaper.

[goralka]

It is our local state schools - comps - who pick the few - saty 4 only children with remotely decent A levels. They put a photo up of the poor things and say where they are going. It is almost amusing as often their grades are nothing like all the good private schools so it is in effect an advert about inadequacy of local schools without the state schools realising it
I am sure the local crap school are happy to have 'amused' you

[Mominatrix]

bisko - just took a look at the leavers destinations for Caldicott, and your information is not accurate - K** is NOT a Chinese last name, but Korean.

Sorry for derailing, but these sorts of ignorant statements are my bugbear.

[Mominatrix]

meant bisjo!

[Felicitywascold]

Xenia despite her excellent education doesn't know that children in state schools get A*s at A Level too. Priceless.

[ggirl]

I have just thrown that mail shot in the recycling bin , no idea where they got my address from as I too opt out ALL the time. Must have cost a bomb.

[ggirl]

the 6th form has a sauna and solarium

[ggirl]

and 20 person jacuzzi

[ggirl]

hope they supply free condoms as well

[diabolo]

Interesting - I got one on Friday - and have never, ever expressed any interest in DC going there. I have, however, posted on thread about them and do have a DS in private education.

The mail shot was addressed to my DH, not me, and I can't imagine where they have got his details from - all our online shopping is in my name.

[Llareggub]

I got it too, as did quite a few of my friends. I blamed boden.

[LadyMaryChristmas]

I buy from boden, they haven't sent me one.

[TheOriginalSteamingNit]

They mail shoot (!) me too, but I haven't had the one with the actual leavers names yet.

Bizarre place.

[difficultpickle]

Mominatrix Kim is indeed a Korean name. Mr Kim won two awards but I think you will find that two of the scholars names are Chinese, hence my comment which was not 'ignorant' at all. Thank you in advance for your apology

[QTPie]

I got the mail shot too. Thought it was some subtle "Catholic Boarding School" thing requested to be sent to me by the MIL . Maybe not then.

I live in Bath (so nowhere near the school), DS isn't even 3 yet. He is signed up for a local private pre-prep (can't imagine him ever boarding). No idea where they got my details...

[happygardening]

I don't think it's Boden I buy from them and haven't received one. DH is a serious Guardian on line reader and were south/south west and he didn't receive anything. But we do obsessively tick the dont pass my details onto a third party etc etc.
DS2 old prep published names and destinations but doesn't really bother me and I think Magdelan College School did publish university destination either on their website or attached to a prospectus. Many indepenent schools publish leavers names and university destinations in their annual magazine. Ok not available to all but very widely distributed.

[TheOriginalSteamingNit]

If they ever send me anything addressed to 'the parent or carer of DD', I will worry. As it is I guess they just use whatever list it is any other dubious company uses to send out its drivel!

[TheOriginalSteamingNit]

OP, were the results any good though?