Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

Flip

Original poster

Advice needed - ex teacher and students on social media

7 replies

Tamedera · 26/12/2022 23:44

I would like some perspective on something - I know someone who is a supply teacher. When he left a school at the end of last term, he allowed two students aged 14-15 to follow his personal instagram account. They asked him to post a picture for them of something silly on his account on his last day and he did that weekend. The two girls then commented on the post, one of them saying they loved him. He also mentioned that she was crying the day he left.

At other times he has referenced the looks of a couple of the girls he teaches/has taught in what I would think to be an unprofessional/inappropriate way.

It seems really off to me. He’s left the school so they aren’t his students anymore. But it seems very odd that a man in his late 30s would do that. He works for an agency, and may do more teaching in the future.

I’m not a teacher, but I would like to get some teachers’ perspectives on whether this is appropriate.

OP posts:

UsingChangeofName · 27/12/2022 00:34

No. It's not appropriate and it goes against all Safeguarding training and advice.

whataplonka · 27/12/2022 04:57

Report it - Safeguarding issue. Agree with above poster.

LolaSmiles · 28/12/2022 13:54

Another vote for it being a safeguarding issue here.

good96 · 28/12/2022 22:58

I’m a Headteacher and this definitely misconduct on so many levels. It’s definitely a safeguarding issue.
Most if not all schools have a policy in place in regards to social media and I would suspect that teaching agencies would too.
Over the years, I’ve had ex and current students find me on SM and send me friend requests which I have declined - it’s not appropriate. I don’t really have colleagues on there to be honest - I use Linkedin more so for professional networking.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 31/12/2022 12:47

Not appropriate at all- agree it should be reported. Having teenage students he has only just finished teaching on his social media is a major safeguarding no-no, and shows a lack of appropriate boundaries if nothing else.

Cam22 · 01/01/2023 19:35

Completely unacceptable behaviour.

Hayliebells · 09/01/2023 20:40

If every there was a massive safeguarding concern, with red flags sticking out all over the place, it's this. Definitely report it.

Flip