school photos published in newspaper without permission.

[RogueRebel]

Found out late last night my daughters class photo is in the newspaper today.
I filled out a permission form a few weeks ago about walks and photos, I agreed to walks and scribbled out photos so there was no confusion.
I've spoken to the head and I'm now waiting for her to call back after she investigates.
I explained my reasons about photos - ex has threatened to take children and has said he will have me followed home etc. Courts have ruled he's not to know my address.

What can I expect? an apology isn't really going to cut it. permissions were checked and they have admitted they didn't have it.

I don't really see what they can do now it has happened.

The newspaper photos were taken right at the start of term in most places - I think ours were done in about week 2 of term so as many of the children hadn't yet returned the form the picture is of half the class and the same for the other reception class. I sat looking through the pictures in the paper surprised at how so many of the schools have completely full classes in their pictures and I wonder if most schools didn't actually consider it properly and just let all the class be in it regardless.

I think ok they have admitted that you filled in the form correctly and they know they shouldn't have done it so what you need to be asking for is what safeguards there are in place to ensure this doesn't happen again, for your children or anyone else's. It has happened now so they can't unpublish it but they have to be very strict about situations like yours or where children are in care so they NEED to review their procedures and remind all class teachers which children in their class are not permitted to be in pictures.

I should add that when it was class assembly a few weeks ago they said at the start that parents could not take pictures for safeguarding reasons because some children did not have permission to be photographed. Our school do seem particularly careful about it but I would hope all schools are the same. We will no doubt have the same for the Christmas play

There is not a lot the school can do now apart from apologise profusely.

But they should be looking at tightening their procedures and/or retraining relevant staff, as this is not acceptable . You are within your rights to ask them what process they follow.

For what it's worth, I not only make it very clear on the standard permissions form that photos of my (adopted) DD2 are not permitted, I also give it in writing to the new class teacher every year AND speak to the new teacher in person.

I just can't understand why parents weren't even told the photos were going to be taken. No letter home or warning at all. apparently the photos were taken over a month ago. so if it was sent home on a letter I could of stopped it, I only found out because they put stickers on the kids

You won't be told when photos are being taken. They take pictures for all sorts of things: new year R, nativity, visiting author, farmyard day etc etc.

That's why the school needs to have solid procedures to check photos for excluded children before they are sent to the press. And why if they are doing a whole class picture they need to have methods in place to subtly remove children who cannot appear in the press.

(And also why we make a 'fuss' at the start of the year to make sure the teacher knows it's important and not just us being precious).

My DD2 is also now old enough to also make teachers aware if they are told a picture is being taken for the press, which is a bit sad, but for the best really.

We have similar issues. You might want to check that the newspaper haven't put a copy online

When ds2 's photo was taken a couple if weeks ago, we had already been told that it was going to be in the newspaper.

Double check that the photos are not also online. If so you can at least get the newspaper to remove the electronic version.

It's too late for the print one, but at least there's a chance that he'll miss it. Tomorrow's chip paper hopefully.

Another vote for talking to the paper first thing in the morning to ensure that all online traces of the photo are removed - including from any depository of photos to print or order and from any electronic copies of the paper - in all its formats.

I'd also be writing to the school and ask exactly what they are going to do to rectify the situation and to ensure it never happens again.

Have the school talk to the paper to ensure removal. You don't want to highlight your situation to yet another group of people.

Firstly I'd agree that you need to make sure any online photos are removed.

Then, as much as I'm sure you don't want to think about this, I'd would make sure that the school has some very rigorous procedures in place to ensure that your ex-P cannot take them from the school. If they have to put something extra in place then so be it. They are the ones that have potentially put your children at risk.

You also need to ensure that the school are investigating how this happened and are putting something into place to ensure that it doesn't happen again. I'm not normally one to go in all guns blazing but I would be making a lot of noise to the school about this. Enough to ensure that the episode doesn't get forgotten and sticks in their memories. It should make them stop and think next time.

OP did you not sign a consent form when dc first started school? We have a consent form every year to fill in if they can have photos took and published in the papers or online.

She refused consent MuffCakes.

I had a meeting with the head again last night (she was supposed to.be phoning me)
She tried to make me feel guilty for all the other children in the picture.

its not online atm I have checked but it was too late for the print.

They actually sent the consent forms out after all the photos were taken and then the head made out she didn't know it was happening.

However she did offer to have DD taken to the office for collection at the end of school that was all she could say.

I'm going to report this to ofsted.

She tried to make you feel guilty? Words fail me. Does she actually realize the possible consequences for someone in your position?

I would write to the chair of governors, stating clearly that this is a safeguarding issue and they have failed to protect children in their care. Then Ofsted if you're not satisfied with the response.

That reminds me of the head, who 'couldn't be bothered' and thought that a parent complaining that their not-to-be-disclosed DC's name had been published in full on the school website. When pointed out to school that good practice should be to use first name only, the staggering answer was "but some pupils like to google themselves"

Words really fail me sometimes.

OP did you actually tell the head and class teacher of your situation and your fears about your ex tracking your child. They may have missed you 'scribbling out' something with no clear written instuctions.