Should my DDs teacher allow year 5 (9-10 yrs) watch a film rated 15?

[xtinadeni]

Hi, my DD recently informed me that her class watched a film at school rated 15, as part of their project. I was not given any information about this from the school or asked to sign a consent form. Is the teacher in the wrong to just think it is acceptable? I'm really not very happy about this as the film contained a fare amount of bad language and although it wasn't extremely bad expletives I still feel I should of had a say in whether I wanted to her to watch it. I would appreciate others views on this. I am unsure whether to go into the school to complain.

I think there is a clause somewhere that schools can show films rated higher than their age rating in some circumstances - normally it is just clips though, and ime normally with a signed letter from parents.

What film was it and why was it shown?

Find out more before diving in, they may have watched a small segment of a film with no controversial bits in it.

I would find out first if it was just an excerpt rather than the whole film.
If indeed it was the whole film, I would be really cross and would be complaining. If a film is rated 15 there is no way in its entirety it can be content appropriate for 9 year olds.
What kind of example is that to be setting children, with regard to following rules?

I think a 15 certificate film to a primary school class is pushing it, even if only excerpt. But agree you do need to find out exactly what went on (and if the film certificate is as DC stated it).

Our primary shows only U and PG films. 12s and 15s belong in secondary schools, not primaries.

They watched the whole film not just clips, DD told me about the swearing but said "don't worry I won't repeat it". The film was Kenneth Branagh, Shackleton. If I had received information about the plans to watch the film in advance I could of screened it before hand and decided if I deemed it appropriate. I haven't watched it myself and although the reviews don't seem too bad I still feel both angry and disapppointed that I wasn't consulted first.

Shackleton Part 1 is PG. You'd better check whether they saw just this (or if it was Part 2, which is 15).

They watched all of it, I have just had a look on Google and came across it on c4 od, both episodes were not screened on tv until midnight and they both say contain strong language (pt 2 has a "G" next to rating with caution) I am going to go through both parts later this evening once DD is in bed. @scaevola it says 15 on both and if was only a PG then why was it not screened on tv until midnight? Either way I don't feel that over 3 and a half hours watching a film that is rated 6 years above their age is good education. I feel I should go and speak to the Headteacher about this.

in a school situation if it was part of something they were going to be working on, id let it go. I may want a word with the class teacher though to talk about it and offer him/her the chance to reassure me.

No idea about TV scheduling, but the info on part 1 being PG is from the BBFC website.

if it had educational value, i couldnt care less myself, but as this bothers you, go and find out from the class teacher what actually happened before speaking to the hesd. maybe it was edited dections that they watched for instance?

it wasnt on at midnight originally either btw

If its sold as a box set it will be labled 15 as thats the higher cert and thats what they have to sell it as. Both discs will say 15 cos they are part of a 15 box set.

The fact people have said part 1 was a PG is making it more and more likely that thats all that was shown. Its worth looking into but I would be assuming the teacher did the right thing and showed a PG (which to my mind you don't need a letter for) rather than assuming she showed a 15 which would be a pretty bonkers thing to do.

I have shown PGs before which contain mild swearing (crap, balls). I knew this beforehand and discussed it with the children before showing. I remember being shown a film which contained the word shit when I was year 5. Again the teachers addressed it before we watched it.