teacher wanting to film lessons?

[RedBugMug]

apparently there have been complaints about teacher, teacher has filmed a few lessons. parents were not informed. is that ok?

Some schools can afford this

It's probably evidence for an oracy. assessment. Why doesn't it sit right with you?? What do you think will happen?!
Teachers can't catch a break these days!

What are your specific concerns?

Work out what they are, write to the Head outlining them and ask for reassurance.

Gossiping among parents is an ineffective way to resolve this.

It was to counter parents' assertions of poor teaching - that is not at all clear from the OP's post. She says apparently there have been complaints about teacher, teacher has filmed a few lessons - I took that as a rather clumsy way of saying that the teacher had filmed these role-plays/presentations and parents have complained because they were not informed about the filming. You have interpreted it as the parents complaining about the quality of the teacher's teaching and she has then used her phone to film her lessons to show that this is not the case. The OP's later use of the word "evidence" probably supports your view. However, I still think the OP needs to clarify whether the parents concerns are about filming or about the teaching?

How do you know it was filmed on the teacher's smart phone? If this is the case, check the school policy. In my school, we aren't allowed to record anything on our own phones. However, filming itself is common practice. I filmed a few segments of my PE lesson last week as evidence of what we had been doing.

interesting that most see no issue.

I have an issue with is

• teacher using private phone (distinctive case)
• complaints about teacher by parents and pupils
• no communications at all by school about the issues

bojo touches a bit my feelings and concerns.

Teacher probably feels backed into a corner by playground jury.

Then complain to the HT.

I still don't understand how you know it was their own phone if you weren't there?

The reason the teacher might be using their own phone is that the school has nothing else that can be used. I would think that the school would have at least one iPad about but perhaps not. Budgets are low.

Could it perhaps be that the teacher has put their phone on the side and said 'I am filming you lot and I will be showing bad behaviour to the head teacher', while not ever actually pressing record.

But if parents signed the forms in September what have they done wrong?

They have your permission.

I still dont understand what the issue is.

I can see why the teacher filmed if she is having a lot of criticism. I hate the parents' mafia.

Not enough info here to know. Filming bad behaviour, while very tempting, would not be advisable. Filming shots of pupils working to show they are learning in the class, far more standard. Using phone - not advisable but no one provides us with anything else to use.

What do you think she's going to do with the video on her phone?

Teacher using own phone would be the main issue here, and there are serious safeguarding concerns if this is what has happened.

OP - just go and see the Head to get an explanation. Probably the easiest thing to do.

The teacher Mafia can intimidate parents too. That is why clarity by way of explanation is best. If info is given to parents and people are open and honest, the gossip really goes away. It is in the interests of schools and teachers to deal with issues even if they seem trivial. A teacher would not be allowed to film a class on their own phone in schools I know. I would expect children to know if it is the teacher's phone. They are not stupid.

Whenever I visit classes, I am introduced to the children. Any visitor is introduced and the children would be told if they were being filmed. We tell parents what is going on. It just stops people worrying

If the teacher is filming lessons on her phone to counter complaints, that sounds like a last resort in a fairly toxic, unsupportive school culture. A senior leader or line manager should a) be supportive of the teacher whilst recognising that complaints about teaching MAY have merit and b) observe teaching to assess its efficacy and give developmental feedback. At no point should any member of staff feel they need to 'prove' that they are doing their job using video evidence. That is their boss' job and it is naive in the extreme to think that putting herself in this position will help.

But a teacher filming students on her phone isn't necessarily a 'safeguarding issue'. Teachers have all sorts of data relating to pupils in their possession all the time. As long as the videos are appropriate, secure (password protected) and deleted when no longer needed, it is a non-issue.

I worked in a school where teachers were actually encouraged to buy an iPad from school, which they could also use as their personal device, to answer emails and so on whilst at school. I drew a line here and said if they wanted me to use an iPad at school they needed to supply me with one, not sell me one!!

I have been doing a bit more research into this as I appeared to be a bit of a lone voice!

It is true that videos must be stored securely, but there is a bit more to be considered than storage.

Local Authorities should have a policy on Photography and Filming in relation to data protection. This is where schools are given advice on how to write their own policies.

Now that there is concern about safeguarding, a lot of schools are adopting the staff protocol that phones belonging to staff are not used in lessons, in any form, including taking images. This is quite normal and, OP, I would check what your school's policy is on this. It is the same for pupil's phones by the way. Only school owned devices should be used.

Also, you have probably given consent for photography and filming, but this consent rarely covers every eventuality. If the school has said it is for publicity, notice boards in school, newsletter and media use, then this is only what it is for. It is not for proving a teacher has adequate class control. This is a change to consent you gave and should have been the subject of a separate request. Can you find what you signed, OP, and check they have followed their agreement with parents? If not, the Head should be informed without delay. Unexpected use of video images is not acceptable. Parents should be told what the images are used for and the consequences of their use. It is perfectly possible for images to be used for educational reasons, but you must be told of this in the consent form and agree to it. A school will normally not use a child's image for any purpose if it prejudices the interests of the child.

In addition, children who did not want to be filmed should have been asked if they wished to move out of shot. If a child did not like being filmed, then they should have been given the option to move away. Was this option given, OP?

If children were filmed and it caused them distress, this is not permitted either. Only you can judge that.

I would ask the school what their policy states regarding staff protocol on personal devices and filming in classrooms. I would also check what you have agreed to and, more importantly, what you have not agreed to.

It is not teacher bashing to be clear and open with parents and children. If this was a man filming on his own phone, would everyone be so happy?

I guess a video potentially being used as evidence doesn't sit right with me

You know your kids school will have CCTV don't you?

Filming children in general is not a problem IMO. We use iPads to do it sometimes as evidence of learning if there is no written work.

BUT filming on a personal mobile phone would be a disciplinary offfence in my school so I can see why the OP is concerned. For the safely of the children and to protect staff from allegations of misconduct, mobile phones are only allowed in the staff room. I would never, ever even take my own phone into the classroom, let alone use it to film children.

Very few primary schools have CCTV and this would have to be explained to parents. It is not the same as using a personal phone to film in class! Also criminal evidence is utterly different.

I am glad, at last, there is some common sense on this thread and an understanding of school policies regarding phones!

thanks all
the forms we signed were for photos&videos for display purposes and to film progress of students (e.g. role play/presentations)

but anyway, now the head has informed parents that the teacher has filmed lessons and that it was against school policy.