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Original poster

Teacher sharing images on SM

165 replies

glitterelf · 13/11/2021 11:26

Morning I've stumbled across images of children including my own on Twitter from a teachers personal Twitter account and I feel a little uneasy about this. Does anyone know the rules and regs around this ? The school itself does have its own account so I'm not sure why it wasn't posted through that account. I know that there are several children who most definitely should not have their pictures posted ever and I cannot see anything in the schools policies about SM. TIA

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Original poster
glitterelf · 17/11/2021 08:17

@MyOtherProfile

I'm really shocked by this. And perhaps more shocked by posters who thought it was ok!

There are very strict safeguarding rules about who can post where. A teacher posting photos of children on an account that isn't the school account has massively crossed the line.

Either they used their own device to take photos of children, which is an absolute no, or they used a school device which they had used to take photos, to access their own social media and post the photos. Again this is an absolute no.

I hope you get a response from the school soon.

That's a very good point you have raised there about the device used and accessing personal SM accounts, @Newnamemsz how would that fit in with the safeguarding of teachers and all the legislation you've read ?
OP posts:
UhOhOops · 17/11/2021 08:38

@Newnamemsz

As I've said repeatedly the issue is whether a personal or school device was used and neither you nor anyone on this thread knows the answer to that (or is likely to find out).
The issue actually is that a school staff member has posted photos of children in her charge on her own social media.

There is statutory training about this for school staff. It will CERTAINLY be in the staff handbook. Parental permission is sought for posting photos on the school website and other school resources. It would never be sought for publishing on staff personal social media.

Never mind that there are myriad reasons why parents refuse permission for their dc photos to be used for anything at all, which op mentions.

I would be going to the head this morning.

TizerorFizz · 17/11/2021 08:45

Thd data protection requirements are that all school data and photographs are stored on school owned machines only. This can include laptops and could be a school camera. It cannot be a personal device. Nothing must be on a personal device for obvious reasons. This is why schools buy laptops and a school camera if they want images. Storage of all data must be on school equipment and posting data on a non school account will be a breach I believe.

saraclara · 17/11/2021 09:05

Definitely a disciplinary offence at my school. Photos could only be taken with school equipment (we weren't even allowed our own phones on our person) and could only be put on the school website.

All hell would break loose if we'd put photos of the children on personal accounts.

SolasAnla · 17/11/2021 09:20

@Newnamemsz

The school includes all the staff
The school have an obligation to control the data.

If there are a number of accounts run by different employees the first obligation for the school is to ensure they have password access and password control over the individual accounts.

The school then has to have an appropriate policy and training for the staff to control the use of the accounts.

Using Twitter as anything other than a public notice board is leaving the school wide open to a data breach.

E.g. The school in the UK is publishing data in the www. Once published the school still have an obligation to prevent the data from being transferred out of the UK/EU GDPR area, that is simply not possible.

@glitterelf permission to use the data can be withdrawn at any stage I would write to the school and withdraw any permission around photos on SM and request that they confirm they have checked and removed any historical data.
I would also write a separate letter complaining of the data breach and ask if it has been self-reported to the ICO they have 72 hours from becoming aware of the breach.

Original poster
glitterelf · 17/11/2021 10:41

Thank you all for the advice I am expecting a response today otherwise I will go to the ICO and Ofsted.

OP posts:
OnceuponaRainbow18 · 18/11/2021 17:59

@glitterelf

Have you got a reply?

Original poster
glitterelf · 18/11/2021 18:10

[quote OnceuponaRainbow18]@glitterelf

Have you got a reply?[/quote]
No nothing so I'll be calling the ICO and Ofsted first thing. The Head has been notified and also the trust. There has been so many issues over the last 2 years some minor but some whoppers too which I really cannot go into on here as it would be very outing but you'd think they'd be straight on it and communicating but unfortunately that's not the case.

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 18/11/2021 18:36

All the best. Keep us informed.

Original poster
glitterelf · 18/11/2021 18:47

@TizerorFizz

All the best. Keep us informed.
I will and can't thank everyone enough for all the advice.
OP posts:
OnceuponaRainbow18 · 18/11/2021 20:46

Glad you’re taking it further after no response from school.

Original poster
glitterelf · 23/11/2021 15:58

Little update, No response yet as they are handling it as a complaint and have 15 days to respond however I have received an email today to say they have Ofsted in tomorrow for two days so I'll try and speak to one of the inspectors in the morning.

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 23/11/2021 17:55

Ofsted? Interesting. Are they doing a parent survey at all? Any parental input in the 2 day schedule I wonder? As the complaint is outstanding, they should see it.

Original poster
glitterelf · 23/11/2021 18:31

@TizerorFizz

Ofsted? Interesting. Are they doing a parent survey at all? Any parental input in the 2 day schedule I wonder? As the complaint is outstanding, they should see it.
Parent view already filled in and I'm prompting other parents to fill it out too. As I said previously there has been many issues and lots since Sept I think that the LA have flagged concerns to Ofsted.

I will be speaking to the inspectors myself in the morning as I have done in all previous inspections the only difference is all previous conversations were positive whereas this one won't be.

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 23/11/2021 19:45

It does seem to be a huge coincidence that Ofsted inspectors are arriving. Were they expected soon in terms of the date of their last visit? Or is this out of the blue - so to speak? I think some of the issues you have described are poor leadership. I will be very interested in how your conversation goes.

Original poster
glitterelf · 23/11/2021 20:05

@TizerorFizz

It does seem to be a huge coincidence that Ofsted inspectors are arriving. Were they expected soon in terms of the date of their last visit? Or is this out of the blue - so to speak? I think some of the issues you have described are poor leadership. I will be very interested in how your conversation goes.
They would be due soon but most definitely due to the backlog this appears to be fairly urgent and they've not been doing the rounds locally so to speak. It's most definitely a management issue. I will not be the only parent wanting to speak with inspectors it most certainly will be interesting and I'm sure when I mention this issue alongside the others they'll be unhappy with what they are hearing. I'll be making it absolutely clear that whilst I have a complaint in the process it's about highlighting to them the seriousness of the complaint, lack of communication and the sheer lack of data protection and safeguarding not only for pupils but the staff too.
OP posts:
Ivchangedmynameforthis · 23/11/2021 20:39

This is most definitely not ok OP. I used to work in my own DC primary school. I was attending an after school event to watch my DS in a sporting demonstration (as a parent not staff). I posted a picture of my DS at said event on my private fb page and got in to trouble and was advised to take it down immediately as school staff shouldn't have pictures on social media of any pupils inside school, my own or otherwise.

Original poster
glitterelf · 24/11/2021 16:24

I managed to speak with one of the inspectors this morning and stressed all the issues and made him aware of my live complaint. He was courteous and thanked me for providing the information and assured me that all complaints will be looked into.
Lots of parents were talking to them too it's just a shame that only a handful of parents did the parent view survey but the results speak volumes.

OP posts:
OnceuponaRainbow18 · 24/11/2021 18:24

@glitterelf

How did you manage to speak to them?

Original poster
glitterelf · 24/11/2021 18:48

[quote OnceuponaRainbow18]@glitterelf

How did you manage to speak to them?[/quote]
They always make they're presence known and make themselves available for parents to chat with them or they approach parents to ask for their views. I've always made sure I've spoken to them and previously I've only ever had positive things to say but unfortunately not this time.
Also on the official Ofsted letter there is a number you can call to request a chat with the inspectors too.

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 25/11/2021 00:02

As Ofsted inspections are largely unannounced it’s difficult to marshal parents to do parent view in time. They don’t get round to it!

Original poster
glitterelf · 25/11/2021 04:04

@TizerorFizz

As Ofsted inspections are largely unannounced it’s difficult to marshal parents to do parent view in time. They don’t get round to it!
I agree but it's rather annoying when you've told parents multiple times that they can access parent view at anytime to complete the survey as it doesn't only need to be completed when there's an inspection. Some parents were grumbling yesterday that they couldn't access the parent view and why can't they send out the paper forms.
OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 25/11/2021 08:20

Well yes. It’s a case of getting round to it at any time. I’m not sure if inspectors receive letters from parents during the inspection. That might be the last resort!

Original poster
glitterelf · 25/11/2021 10:59

@TizerorFizz

Well yes. It’s a case of getting round to it at any time. I’m not sure if inspectors receive letters from parents during the inspection. That might be the last resort!
You do have the option of writing a letter and putting it in a sealed letter for the inspectors. A different inspector approached me this morning and asked for my views so I was open and honest told her I'd already spoken to her colleague yesterday but she insisted that she'd like to hear my views herself. From the conversation I know that this issue was discussed yesterday so I'm still left waiting on a response from the Head which the inspectors are aware of.
OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 25/11/2021 13:22

The Complaints Policy should have a timeline. So an acknowledgement and then time to investigate etc. However the Head should respond immediately in my view.