Schools that ban parents filming video of nativity, school plays, sports day but offer DVD as a solution

[TwilightMoon]

Hi everyone!

In this day and age obviously parents want to protect their children from bad people so a lot of schools are now banning parents from filming school productions and taking photos. But this might mean parents have no records of their children's special moments!

So some schools are offering their own photos and videos - but don't these have the same risk? I'm researching schools that do this and I'm trying to find out if they have any unified safety rules.

Does anyone have any experience of their school doing this?

Schools know which children can’t be filmed and can work around that. Random parents won’t know.

Our school allows filming / photos but they must not go on social media.

One advantage of the school doing the filming is that there aren’t random parents standing in the way because they want their own film (despite being asked not to stand up).

They will be aware which children can’t be shown on video or photos for whatever reason and can take steps to ensure their safety by screening what is made public

Yes, the school know etc. It's not just because of 'paedophiles' etc, lots of children are under child protection if they are being fostered or have been adopted.

A previous school did it, I think they may have filmed rehearsals no parents got in the way. It worked really well, children who couldn't be seen were accommodated by the way it was shot and it raised funds for the school.

It's not even just about protecting them from 'bad people'. Some parents don't want their children photographed or filmed because they don't want anyone and everyone shoving pics on SM that they can't control. So if they haven't given photo permission then shook can work round that for the dvd.

Plus an audience full of people watching a performance through their smartphone screen isn't great. So if the school films it, it's win-win. Parents actually engage with the performance and watch what's happening, and they can get a dvd to commemorate their little darling's acting debut too.

As others have said, the school are aware of which children cannot be filmed because of privacy concerns and this allows them to accommodate that.

It also stops the arsehole parents who just have to film their little darlings so stand up/hold their phone above their heads ensuring no one else can see.

Definitely a room full of parents standing up with their smartphones would be annoying so I can see how a single professional cameraman alleviates this. But I was talking to one mum in South London who claimed her school charge £21! She was probably exaggerating but I think some schools charge up to £15. But I don’t think there are any schools that do this as they have been banned as parents have the legal right to film theirs kids.

But I don’t think there are any schools that do this as they have been banned as parents have the legal right to film theirs kids.

I'm not entirely sure I understand your point, but parents certainly don't have the legal right to film other people's kids. There are very real safeguarding concerns for some children who have been in the care system or where there has been a history of abuse.

It infuriates me that some parents think a filming their child's appearance a nativity play is more important than keeping vulnerable children safe.

Our school charged £5, filmed by a teacher.

That seems like the perfect solution Dis. £5 and not professional. I hate the sea of phones and iPads too. It can't be nice for the children either. You want to look over and catch your smiling mother's eye, not see a load of phones.

A DVD can be made of the dress rehearsal, without the child who may be put in danger by a photo or video (assuming not a main part). Parents can take photo's of their own children afterwards. A child's safety is what is most important, we should all work together to keep children safe.

DS’s school does this. It’s much better - I can sit back and enjoy the show. I think the dvds are £5.

"parents have the legal right to film theirs kids"

Other than in places where they are banned by the owner of the premises from doing so.

The school can edit a final cut sensitively (with reference to the parents of vulnerable DC) - other parents cannot possibly know what the risks are nor how to mitigate them sensitively.

And parents waving glowing screens (of sizes up to iPad) is a seriously shitty distraction for every one.

If you think the school is overcharging, the offer to find a more realistically priced provider for future performances. Many wedding/event photographers offer this service so so you mig able to d a better price

Does anyone really buy a video of sports day? Its tedious enough to watch...

Is there anything in particular that has prompted you to ask? Once you've got your information, what are you going to do with it?

It's also the controlling what is actually taken in the pictures. Let's say Uncle George is sitting in the front row taking pictures. IS he actually taking them of his adored pfgc Tommy who is third shepherd, or actually Bella next to him who is sitting crossed legged with a full view of her pants?
By taking the video, then can control who is in the video, plus the content. And if Bella is showing her pants, that's the time to cut to the other camera with Angel Gabriel picking his nose...

As well as the issues with regards to filming & safeguarding there are also issues to do with copyright.

Schools will be playing for PPL, PRS & performance rights licences and there may be restrictions on videoing by the copyright owners. So they need to recoup these costs somehow.