Parent Reps made to sign NDC (Non Disclosure Clauses)

[barnetparent]

I hope at very least this will spark off some useful conversation and alert other parents to these crazy practices.

We have just finished at primary school. During our last year, I had learnt from two parents that they really wanted to become class parent reps, but both had refused when the New Head insisted they sign a non disclosure clause.

The news infuriated me.
What can be so sensitive between Senior School Staff and parent reps that they have to sign up to a secrecy clause.

Is it any surprise that many rumours and truths came out. Namely that staff and parents were being victimised by a senior staff member.
The current head closed many doors to parents after one parent accused a senior staff member of being verbally abusive toward their year 4 child.

I hope there are some head teachers/senior leaders on this forum.
Be aware that considerable publicity is building up challenging the validity and legality of using NDC and Gagging Orders.

What do you mean by a non-disclosure order? If you mean that parents were asked to sign that they understood that the parent reps job meant that they may become aware of confidential information about other children etc, then I see that as good safeguarding practice in the school.

If you do really mean it as a means of information being suppressed then that is clearly not acceptable.

I don't want to relate the use of NDC's specifically to this school.
I wanted to open up a wider debate and also to find out whether other parents, who are parent reps have experienced this in their school

Parent reps isn't something I've come across at any secondary school I've worked at. Is this a state comprehensive secondary?

I would imagine that it's a bit like when some of the PTA do some discretionary grants to support non PP students but whose family are struggling that the people involved don't go blabbing about it, or more likely go home and talk to DP about it in earshot of their own child.

What exactly is the role of parent reps? Our PTA has parents on it and they're a wonderful group of people who fundraise, support school events, help us sub those who need it, give us some really useful feedback on things and so on. They have no involvement with the running of the school.

When I did reading at my children's primary school I had to sign a volunteering agreement. I had to promise not to talk about stuff I heard at school about the children or staff, to dress appropriately etc. I don't think that was unreasonable.

It’s normal to sign an agreement that you’ve read and understood the policies of the school which pertain to you.

If you have serious concerns about the management of a school you should contact OFSTED.

I'm a primary school senior leader & have never heard of class reps having to sign NDA?! That seems very odd! As others have said, if you're volunteering in the school then obviously there would be the code of conduct/policies/safeguarding/confidentiality agreements etc. but not for class reps (unless they do both!)... but then at my school the class reps have little to do with the actual school and is more just for the class' parents (they organise social things, Xmas gifts etc.)

I've only ever heard of Parent reps on MN. I've had dcs at 7 different schools in total, and have taught at 4 others.

However, anyone who hears confidential information needs to understand just what confidential means. YOu aren't prepared to 'be specific' so I don't see how anyone can answer more specifically than that.