Safety Issues
Overview CSF Guidelines for Safe Use of Images in Schools Information about Children Information about Adults Information about the School Data Protection Webcams Issues with Images (including Examples)
Do not delete cell
Do not delete cell

Information about Adults

The nature of the information which you publish about adults associated with your school (which might include current and past staff members, parents, governors, ex-pupils who are now adults and any other individuals involved in the school) will vary according to the purpose of your web site.

Bear in mind that some people will not want to be contactable, or will not want their details released so that it is possible for someone else to find them. Whether these are personal or professional, it is important that a person's wishes are respected.

It is generally a good idea to think about the categories of information which you might wish to publish, for example:

• Photographs or pictures?
• Name - does this include the first name or initial - and Title?
• Role in school?
• Qualifications?
• Telephone Number?
• School-based Email Address?

This process needs to be carried out in consultation with staff! Under the Data Protection Act 1998 the school needs to request permission from its staff before such information.

Do not publish the full names or addresses of staff.

Do give staff the opportunity to request that their contact information or photograph is not included in any material published on the web site.

Children are not the only group where care needs to be exercised in using and taking images. Adults - particularly those with learning disabilities - can also be vulnerable. Simply because the subject of an image may be over 18 years of age does not meant that you do not need to follow the guidelines in getting written consent.

Photographs / Images of Staff

Adults who work at the school and whose image may be included in photographs or videotapes should also have their consent sought before these images are published on a web site. If you feel this would not be appropraite for your particular school/staff member(s) - e.g they may be have their photo taken on a number of different occasions - then you should consider creating a blanket consent form which would then be kept on the staff member's personnel file. For more guidance on safe use of images in Hertfordshire Schools:

• Adobe Acrobat pdf file, 83kb/23 pages, 3/06/04, images_schools guidelines.pdf

If staff in your school would not like their photograph included on the school's web site, then there are other ways that you can include some sort of representation of them. Some schools encourage pupils to submit drawings (nice ones!) of their teachers - the teacher can then pick their favourite which can be scanned and included on the web site. Examples of schools that have done this include:

• Peartree Primary School
• Orchard Primary School