do they take this data protection thing too far?

sooz

ChasingButterflies wrote: »

Re getting contact details for other parents within class.

At the start of the school year one clever mum asked the teacher to pop a note in all the childrens homework bags. It was along the lines of "I am trying to put together a class list with contact details for Junior 1, please e-mail me if you wish your details to be included on the list". Once complied the list was passed to all parents via homework folders.

Most parents (but not all) replied. List covered, child's name, address, telephone numbers, parents names, email address and childs birthday. If there were things you didn't want to list then there was no need to - and it has been quite handy.

we had the same...started in reception, & has been updated by the same mum ever since.
I was happy to opt in, & do find it useful that I have most of the other mums' phone numbers, which is particularly useful in an emergency , BUT some of the mums have started taking the peee....

we've had several emails now, from one mum asking us to vote for her at the next parent govenor elections. Sorry...if you email me to ask for my vote, you aren't getting it!
And then we've also had a couple of mums using the whole email list, to list baby/kids stuff they have for sale. I think I'll get my details taken off the next list.

Janepig

DD's school must be very strange then as the Governor's names, addresses and phone numbers are all detailed on the last page of their annual report (available online). Also, the headed paper that the PTA use has the names and phone numbers of the committee on top. I assumed, particularly with the governors, that it's because they should be contactable by parents as part of the job.

The only type of list the school provide to parents though (if you ask) as regards children is a list of first names so you can send Christmas cards or party invites.

Jxx

yoni_one

Working with mothers who have escaped domestic violence and abuse I think Data Protection is crucial. It has happened before when schools have handed out the contact details of one parent to the other after being explicitly asked not to. The results have been devastating.

It may be a nuisance for some but the bigger picture usually provides some sense to the need for it.

MrsTinks

Once Bean goes to nursery or school I'd be furious if anyone gave out my details - address or number - without my express permission. To the point where I would have NO problem taking legal action... So are they taking it too far? Not in my view.

2 people apart from HR at work have my home number - NO-ONE has my personal mobile and only HR know my address. Likewise if I choose to let others have my details that should be MY choice and NOT someone elses.

I think do as suggested - drop a note in the childrens bags with the teachers permission suggesting if people want their details on a list etc to e-mail you - that way it's their choice. Asking the school etc for it - they SHOULD refuse to give them out. If they are found to be in breach of the DPA the fines a not insignificant... we're talking thousands of pounds in fines...

bunty109

Janepig wrote: »

DD's school must be very strange then as the Governor's names, addresses and phone numbers are all detailed on the last page of their annual report (available online). Also, the headed paper that the PTA use has the names and phone numbers of the committee on top. I assumed, particularly with the governors, that it's because they should be contactable by parents as part of the job.

The only type of list the school provide to parents though (if you ask) as regards children is a list of first names so you can send Christmas cards or party invites.

Jxx

Janepig, that does seem unusual. I've no problem with parents having contact with me but having had experience of very upset parents trying to get in touch with me at home, I would much rather be put in the position where I had to phone them than they could phone me at any time day or night and launch into something I may have no idea about (and usually the school would have an idea and could let me know what it was about).

Having said that, I am on a list of parents and we hold phone numbers in case of emergencies, but I've never found anyone take advantage and I do trust my friends not to pass my number on to people I am not connected with socially.

RobertoMoir

Deals wrote: »

1) what are your thoughts on this data protection thing?

I think its fantastic. I like to have some control over my own privacy and what random people and businesses know about me.

Deals wrote: »

has this gone too far? i can get hold of my MP via website, letter , email but cannot main people at my daughter's school! (though not sure if anything done on the MP side!!!)

Are you seriously trying to say that you can phone your MP up at home or go knock on the front door of their house at 4am, or did you mean to say that you can contact your MP using all those methods via their business office (like, you know, the school would be the 'office' for a governor).

RobertoMoir

Janepig wrote: »

DD's school must be very strange then as the Governor's names, addresses and phone numbers are all detailed on the last page of their annual report (available online). Also, the headed paper that the PTA use has the names and phone numbers of the committee on top. I assumed, particularly with the governors, that it's because they should be contactable by parents as part of the job.

I'd say that's very unusual. The educational establishment I work for wouldn't do that any more than they'd force the students to swallow lit fireworks at breaktimes.

dora37

Janepig wrote: »

Also, the headed paper that the PTA use has the names and phone numbers of the committee on top. I assumed, particularly with the governors, that it's because they should be contactable by parents as part of the job.

Jxx

I don't understand why you think it is 'part of the job' - both the PTA and Governors give up their time voluntarily.

It is one thing giving up your time (being a governor, I can tell you there are lots of various meetings) to help the running of the school, but to obligate yourself to potential communication from strangers 24/7 is a different ball game and I would imagine would put potential govenors off the role if it was required.

Nicki

I'm chair of governors at a school and I once had a parent phone me at midnight because they wanted to discuss with me a letter they had received a few days previously concerning school transport. A few days later, the same parent phoned me again at 10.30pm and my husband answered the phone and told her never to call again after 7pm at night and refused to put her through to me. The same parent called me on Christmas day too, though not in the middle of the night fortunately.

Following this the school is very careful not to give out my contact details. Parents can either leave a message for me at school and I will contact them immediately, or they can stop me when they see me in school with my child and arrange a time to speak. I can see no reason why OP can't contact the governors by leaving a note for the school to forward to them all, and it is unreasonable to expect their home phone numbers or addresses.

Janepig

dora37 wrote: »

I don't understand why you think it is 'part of the job' - both the PTA and Governors give up their time voluntarily.

It is one thing giving up your time (being a governor, I can tell you there are lots of various meetings) to help the running of the school, but to obligate yourself to potential communication from strangers 24/7 is a different ball game and I would imagine would put potential govenors off the role if it was required.

Calm down!!! I'm more than aware of what meetings, etc.. Governors have to attend (one of my friends is a Governor at her DD's school). And that it's voluntary. All I said was that I "assumed" it was part of the (voluntary) job to have their contact details available so that parents could contact them if needs be (although again, I would assume that would be quite rare) - an assumption made because of my experience of my DD's school having the contact details available. I don't know (or didn't until I read this thread) that it wasn't standard practice in all schools. I don't go around checking what other schools do compaired to DD's school you know.

Jxx