Not allowed to take a photo of school nativity..

lindos90

..but am allowed to buy a DVD recorded by a member of staff!

Theres not alot that I get really annoyed about, but just before Christams we had a letter from school saying that due to 'new legislation' parents would not be allowed to take photos during the Nativity play at school. In the same letter we were advised that a recorded copy of the play would be available to buy from the school office in the new year.

When the school management were asked what this legistation was, parents were told that it was about 'child protection' and to avoid photos of children 'getting into the wrong hands' or being put on facebook etc for public viewing.

When pressed, the management said that the policy of 'no cameras' had always been applied at the school, (apparently unaware that the parent asking the question had older children who had been to the school in the past, and had moved up to secondary, so they knew that was a lie).

So, is there any legislation? A quick google seems to say not, and if Cameras have allegedly never been allowed in concerts, why does the letter refer to 'new legislation' as the reason?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1193697/Parents-banned-taking-photos-children-school-sports-day.html

The most annoying thing is that the school are obviously making it up as they go along, and expecting parents to believe anything they say.

If the governers have had a meeting, and decided this themselves, for whatever reason then why not actually have the bl00dy backbone to say that in the letter, instead of hiding behind none existant 'legislation'?

Then be prepaired to make a profit by selling images we were not allowed to photograph ourselves is just a joke :mad:

Ok, rant over, I feel slightly better now!

Anyone else had experience of this in their local school?

onlyroz

I was allowed to take photos at my son's Christmas play - the head stood up and told us so before it started - but she said that we were *not* allowed to put any photos up on (e.g.) Facebook etc. No idea what the actual law is though...

Tropez

There appears to be a lot of confusion regarding current legislation with regards to both Child Protection laws and the application of the Data Protection Act. Some schools may be erring on the side of caution, some others may be using it as a covert money-making procedure and others don't seem to care.

The official stance of the Information Commissioner, as stated in 2007, is that schools should not be using the Data Protection Act in order to prevent parents from taking photographs of their children at school events such as concerts, sporting events and plays. Similarly, if a parent takes a photo of their children and other friends or classmates of that child appear in the photograph, and the photograph is purely for personal use, then this is also exempt from Data Protection laws. However, uploading that photograph to a social networking site without gaining the consent of the parents of the other children in the photograph may become a Data Protection issue.

There is, however, some concern regarding child protection issues but while a particular LEA or school might have their own policy on such issues, there is no current legislation specifically forbidding parents from taking pictures or filming their children while at school. Were a parent to be filming somebody elses child without authorisation, however, this may raise a legal issue.

Plans_all_plans

We were allowed to take photos of our children's nativity play. We were also able to purchase a DVD from the school!

System

The information commissioner re-iterated his stance in December
http://www.ico.gov.uk/~/media/documents/pressreleases/2010/christmas_duck_outs_press-release_07122010.ashx

lucylucky

It does appear to be that schools are still, incorrectly, hiding behind the DPA.

If the school wishes to make a DVD then fine. If they want to stop people bringing in cameras then fine (and good luck in doing that!)

But why bother lying to the parents?

I would write to the school seeking clarification. (Just for fun)

cherydee

At my grandson's nursery we were allowed to take photos and footage of the nativity play, but we first had to sign our name on a sheet of paper.

lindos90

lucylucky wrote: »

I would write to the school seeking clarification. (Just for fun)

Have done, but its a resounding 'no comment' at the moment, I think they assume Christmas is over and it will be forgotten. Then by next Christams they can just roll out the same old letter to the new starters!

My OH wants to complain that they have taken an image of our child and then sold it on to other people without our consent..now THAT could be a data protection issue! He also wants to ask them if they treated the DVd somehow to prevent it from being uploaded to a computer or copied, and if the school staff CRB checked everyone who bought a copy, good points, but a tad pedantic!

There is nothing on the county education website about it, so there does not seem to be a county wide policy.

... and all this from the same school who dont seem to mind pupils changing from their PE kits back into uniform in classroom in full view and close proximityto where parents are stood right outside the classroom, without drawing the blinds!:eek:

Becles

At our school the head asks if anyone has a problem with pictures being taken. Nobody has said anything so I'm not sure what would happen if someone did have a problem. I'd assume their child would be removed from the stage while pictures are being taken and then put back for the performance.

You're allowed to take pictures before and after the performance, for personal memories and to show friends and relatives, but we're reminded not to put them on the internet etc.

They don't like people taking photo's during the performance as flashes are off putting to the children and it disturbs people in the audience if others keep standing up or holding cameras in the air to take pics.

They also do a DVD and take pictures at the dress rehearsal and we can order reprints, with money going to school funds.

lindos90

Tropez wrote: »

purely for personal use

Why does that sound wrong :eek:!

pupsicola

I was allowed to photograph and film my sons nativity play. We were given the spiel about not putting it up on facebook etc too. How they plan to police that is beyond me. Bloody political correctness gone mad. My parents have dozens of photos of me at school events with classmates. We have all lived to tell the tale.

What makes me laugh is that sports days are not allowed to be competitive anymore. Just incase some poor little sensitive soul cant cope with loosing. Great preperation for the real world.