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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Humiliated Sons Exam results publicised

409 replies

Frances39 · 08/09/2017 01:21

My son received his A-level results this August and is about to head off to university. However his college which he attended in their assemblies have being showing his picture and results in all the assemblies. My son did very well despite several unfortunate happenings during his exams, however he did very mediocre compared to the rest of the leavers. In their assembly's they put up the A*AA etc. students up and those going to Oxford/Cambridge, then they went on to show my sons grades and his less prestigious university as some kind of charity case. My son has not left his room now for a couple of days since hearing about what the school did, he did not even tell his close friends what grades he got. He feels humiliated and violated that they would do such a thing without his consent and that he was contrasted with Oxbridge students. I have no idea what I should do, I will he contacting the school and maybe a solicitor. I cannot imagine what my son must be experiencing

OP posts:
foofoofairybumcakes · 11/09/2017 11:33

OP I totally feel for you, and my initial response would have been much the same. Absolutely furious and wanting someone to pay for hurting my chick (of any age). We're all sensitive souls underneath and no-one wants to feel publicly humiliated. But my advice is not to let your rage fester or escalate - my concern would be that by pursuing the matter you will give the event greater importance and power. Perhaps it might be better to concentrate and look forward and just put that unbelievably f*ing horrible event into the 'slightly annoying' category for your own and your sons peace of mind. Just a suggestion. Big hugs - look forward not back Flowers.

kaitlinktm · 11/09/2017 13:13

Were you there at the assembly? Is that how it really went down?!

Of course she wasn't - she isn't a member of the school/college - but her son's friends at school, who were at the assembly have told him the message they took away from it. And even if the intentions behind it were good, the message they drew from it was that poor old OP's son didn't do that well but it was OK - for him.

My A Level results were shown on the college notice board along with everyone elses.

So were mine - can't you see that it isn't the same thing? Suppose it had said on this noticeboard of A level results that although RachelP247 didn't get into Oxbridge like candidates A, B and C she still did very well - nobody else mentioned, just you (and your photo) alongside a couple of Oxbridge candidates - that wouldn't be the same would it?

I don't understand why people keep harping on about notice boards as if it is remotely the same thing - and I defy anyone under these circumstances not to feel patronised and humilated.

alreadytaken · 11/09/2017 13:33

sounds like the school or college were thoughtless and stupid - and that should be pointed out to them. I'd ask for a written apology for their stupidity. Suggesting you sue them is silly, though, you'll get nowhere. So concentrate on making the boy feel better in himself.

This is a difficult time for teenagers worrying about how they will get on at university. Just keep providing reassurance that actually he did very well and it will be fine.

SandyDenny · 11/09/2017 17:49

Have you had any repsonse from the school yet OP?

Oblomov17 · 11/09/2017 18:00

I do understand. They completely breached his privacy. It may well have been their intention to inspire future students. But they ended up humiliating him.
Phone call and email to head of year. For starters.
I think this is very poor. Poorly thought through.

Original poster
Frances39 · 11/09/2017 20:07

They are investigating and looking into the school Data policy

OP posts:
kaitlinktm · 11/09/2017 20:41

I should add though that although I feel the school has used very poor judgement here and should be brought to task about it, I think involving a solicitor would be OTT.

I am glad they are investigating.

senua · 11/09/2017 21:25

What question did you ask them?

EJ502 · 18/02/2022 14:05

Is it a breach of GDPR if my son exam results were inaccurately published by the school

drpet49 · 18/02/2022 14:12

Involve a Solicitor. Lol, just forget it and move on with your lives. So much drama.

2bazookas · 18/02/2022 14:22

You don't need a solicitor. No need to pile on the drama.

I would write a formal letter to the school explaining in unemotional terms that their practice has had a negative effect on a pupil who feels his excellent achievement has been publically downgraded. Ask them to reconsider future practice.

Then encourage your son to get over himself. School is in his past; a bright future beckons.

moose62 · 18/02/2022 14:58

This happened in September 2017....im sure the lad has left university by now!

MrsBlaue · 18/02/2022 15:11

Possible GDPR breach. Solicitor is a good shout.

SirGawain · 18/02/2022 15:11

Zombie thread!!!

Georgeskitchen · 18/02/2022 15:12

@Frances39

8 individual's with all A's/A*s and then him
So they only showed 9 pupils results? What about the rest of the year? And what's wrong with not going to uni and taking an apprenticeship instead? For some youngsters this is the far better option and no being saddled with a huge debt!!
SirGawain · 18/02/2022 15:13

I would write a formal letter to the school explaining in unemotional terms why I can't understand a calendar.

Turtles4543 · 18/02/2022 15:23

😂

Dimensions3 · 18/02/2022 15:57

@Frances39

He doesn't have mental health issues, he is rightfully pissed off to have private details made public. He just wants to live his life without his rights infringed upon so he can live a normal life and move on from all the past tragedy.
I agree, it isn’t a mental health problem to be angry and a outraged at this. It can’t be undone and sounds humiliating. I would be furious. I hope you can get some recourse even though it’s done.
Dimensions3 · 18/02/2022 16:00

@SirGawain

Zombie thread!!!
Oh fucking hell. I HATE ZOMBIE THREADS.

🧟 Die zombie thread, die.

Hugoslavia · 18/02/2022 16:10

I appreciate that you are upset, but I wouldn't make a big fuss about it in front of your son. Take it up with the school/college and get mad at them but downplay it to him. Ultimately, what you want is for him to be happy and move on from it, not dwell on it after all he has been through.

Prescottdanni123 · 18/02/2022 16:15

Comparing just one person to the A/A* students is at best insensitive, at worst downright nasty.

If they just wanted to give examples of which courses/unis students were heading top, they didn't need to give the grades. Just name and whichever uni/course. And more than 1 person not going to oxbridge.

Thereisnolight · 18/02/2022 16:23

@OhTheRoses

What a precious world we live in now. In 1976 78 my O and A'Level results were published in the local paper. Students name followed by grades. This summer pictures of dd and the others who got all A*s were all over the schools website and Twitter. Although names weren't published it was pretty obvious.

If your son met his predictions and as others have said applied to the uni he's attending I think he is overreacting and you should be playing this down rather than whipping his frenzy.

It’s great that your dd got all A*s AND was happy to have this publicised. Can’t you understand how someone who did less well might not be so happy? Re the old tradition of publishing all the results - how wonderful for those at the top and how terrible for the children who came last. Even some people who do super-well might, for all sorts of reasons, prefer to be private about it. OP, I’m with you. This private information shouldn’t have been publicised without your son’s permission. It’s disrespectful. And possibly illegal - haven’t they heard of GDPR?
MatildaJayne · 18/02/2022 16:23

@EJ502

Is it a breach of GDPR if my son exam results were inaccurately published by the school
Start your own thread @EJ502, don’t resurrect a zombie. You’ll just get (increasingly angry) replies to the zombie thread.
Thereisnolight · 18/02/2022 16:23

Ha ha oh dear. Zombie thread.

Jane2658 · 18/02/2022 16:36

Our local paper shares what GCSE grades each pupil gets at 4 and higher in which subject. So Joe Bloggs en, ma, hi, etc. Not fun or fair for pupils like my son with SEN who got a lot of 2/3 grades so have just one or two subjects listed next to their name. It really pissed me off tbh and I wish I had complained. He tried really hard!