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Primary education

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Original poster

Asked to give details of grandparents' birth, religious beliefs etc

21 replies

AbitSceptical · 19/02/2015 15:40

DS is in Reception. His teacher has sent home a form for parents to complete which asks for information that I consider quite personal / sensitive.

For example:
I was born in: (town / village & country)
Dad was born in / Mum was born in
my grandparents were born in...
Mum / Dad / grandparents jobs
My religion is...
Festivals I celebrate are...
Does your child attend any faith or cultural groups

The reason they have given for asking for this info:

‘We like to gather in information regarding cultural heritage ... These all help us to make sure that our setting meets all of our children’s needs.’

Does anyone have any experience of this? Is it normal for a primary school to collect this sort of information? I am quite uncomfortable with it - partly because it doesn't comply with the data protection act.

DH says I'm being OTT.

TIA

OP posts:
LuckyLopez · 19/02/2015 15:47

What bit doesn't comply with DPA exactly? I don't see a problem with it. Im reg'd with the ICO myself and nothing is screaming out to me.

Leeds2 · 19/02/2015 15:59

Wouldn't bother me, and I would fill it in and send it back.

Wasn't asked this sort of thing when DD started Reception though.

HarrietSchulenberg · 19/02/2015 16:04

Don't fill it in if you don't want to. But then don't grumble if school asks your child to participate, or not participate, in a religious or cultural activity that you are not comfortable with.

NerrSnerr · 19/02/2015 16:05

I would just fill out the bits I feel happy to ( in my case all of it) and send it back. No problem.

noramum · 19/02/2015 18:03

Apart from the job question and the grandparent bits we had similar ones when DD started school. They wanted to know if there is anything in DD's cultural heritage which can be incorporated into lessons, in our case the German tradition of St. Nikolaus, done beautifully.

There is nothing really you have to do, you can be vague by just stating the county, not town you were born and the job sector, not specific titles.

Nothing strikes me as something I haven't written down on countless forms anyway over the years.

dixiechick1975 · 19/02/2015 18:36

The jobs bit will be in case anyone has a job related to a topic and can be asked if they could come into school eg dental nurse, fireman, policeman, gardener.

Grandparents info will be because they may be free to help out at school.

Seems a very sensible idea.

NotCitrus · 19/02/2015 18:46

Fill in the bits you're happy with, ignore the rest. It's so they can talk about different things and use relevant examples of how they may be different in different places, and get people/ things to show and tell.

Ds's school just put flipchart paper on the window one afternoon with all the children's names and space under "My family is from..."

Marmot75 · 19/02/2015 18:50

I believe schools are increasingly expected to do more to ensure children are aware of different cultures etc. I believe some schools have done badly in OFSTED inspections because they haven't fulfilled this requirement. This request might be inspired by that. I wouldn't have a problem with it personally.

cartoonsaveme · 19/02/2015 20:30

We had similar - we have loads of nationalities in our school and first second and third generations of immigrants. They use the info with classes to discuss diversity and get to know each family and history. Parents are often used to help at cultural events eg talk about family traditions. Parents jobs are used to talk to children about what adults do eg Xs dad is a fireman, Ys mum is a policewoman, Xs dad is a teacher etc
If you don't want to participate then don't fill it in, but don't moan later if your child is not involved in these discussions in the same way

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 19/02/2015 20:31

What do you mean re the DPA?

nonicknameseemsavailable · 19/02/2015 21:04

I can't see anything wrong with that. Asking what town/area/country family are from seems quite reasonable (if it clashes with personal infornation used for online banking or something then just name a nearby place but it is rarely secret information), jobs of parents or grandparents is harmless enough and something most children could answer themselves.
religion/culture etc is information schools are expected to know, it means they can make sure they cover relevant festivals, they can ask families who celebrate these to come and share their traditions and beliefs.

I really can't see why anyone wouldn't fill it in and if one or two questions bother you then I would just 'accidentally' forget to fill those ones in and do the rest.

changeychangechangeychange · 19/02/2015 21:22

The British values is not the reason those schools were not outstanding. reading the reports they were a way off in all areas- its all a bit of a fuss about nothing.

The head of one said on the radio that there was no diversity locally- which is tosh as there are some schools in Lincolnshire with exceptionally high percentages of pupils from eastern Europe.

BMO · 19/02/2015 22:04

In most Reception classes teachers and children will talk a lot about where families originate from (DS's class has a big map with photos of children attached to different countries), festivals etc. On Diwali/Eid the teacher can get a child to tell the class how their family celebrate.

The only bit that seems a bit sensitive is the jobs question, as some families might not be comfortable disclosing that they are unemployed. I would maybe feed back that as a concern to the school.

changeychangechangeychange · 19/02/2015 23:25

On Diwali/Eid the teacher can get a child to tell the class how their family celebrate.

They could but using children as experts is not really advocated. How much would the average 4 year old know about Christian festivals- we wouldnt ask them to explain the importance of lent /Easter to Christians- same principle applies to Eid.

Imagine a 5 year old explaining how Christmas is celebrated, santa, stockings, family meal, granny falling asleep, watching comedy on tv- not much religion there- explaining how the family celebrates Diwali and Eid are equally challenging for many young children.

BMO · 19/02/2015 23:29

A child can be valued as an expert on their own life/experiences! Of course a child can talk about how their family celebrates Christmas - what on earth is wrong with talking about santa, stockings and big meals? That is how Christmas is celebrated for most children.

You seem to have confused that with teaching the class though Confused The teacher wouldn't nip to the staffroom for a coffee.

Anyway, the explanation of actual religious content would be pretty limited for 4 year olds.

changeychangechangeychange · 19/02/2015 23:50

But that isnt talking about religion is it? That is the point. We accept that the typical 4 year old Christian child will know almost nothing about the faith but teachers regularly expect children of other faiths and cultures to be experts and put them on the spot as experts. That is why many SACRE guidance caution against it.

BackforGood · 20/02/2015 00:09

I'm with your dh - you are being completely paranoid.
However, if you don't want to fill it in, then don't.

Many, many interesting speakers have been brought in from the local community though, when it's been found out that someone's Grandma or Dad or whoever does an interesting (or relevant to what they are finding out about) job, or comes from a country they are finding out about - it brings topics so much more alive if they can bring actual real people in to talk with the children.

Original poster
AbitSceptical · 20/02/2015 09:23

Thanks for replies. I wrote another post last night but was having issues with laptop and it hasn't posted.

I'm just going to go with being vague. Don't suppose they'd want anyone from my family to go and talk to the kids anyway. Thanks all.

OP posts:
BMO · 20/02/2015 09:39

changey you seem confused about the difference between a child talking about their family's traditions and culture and teaching a class about religion. Are you a teacher you lets 4 year olds give lessons with no adult input? Why would you think only children of some cultural backgrounds are allowed to talk to the class and not others?

LuckyLopez · 20/02/2015 11:33

You still didn't explain why you think it contravenes data protection act?

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