Schools defend use of CCTV in school toilets
HEAD teachers have defended the placing of CCTV cameras to monitor school toilets.
Four schools in the Bristol area – Patchway Community College, Ashton Park, John Cabot Academy in Kingswood and Wellsway in Keynsham – have appeared on a list of more than 200 in the country compiled by campaign group Big Brother Watch, following a request under the Freedom of Information Act.
But schools insisted that no cameras had been placed where pupils could be filmed using a toilet or getting changed. They insisted the devices improved pupil safety.
City council spokeswoman Julia Walton, speaking on behalf of Ashton Park, said the school had cameras covering the entrance to a communal wash area off a corridor, which recorded people going in and out but did not cover toilets themselves.
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David Carter, the executive principal of the Cabot Learning Federation, which runs John Cabot Academy, said the cameras at the school highlighted on the list only recorded the faces of children as they entered from a corridor. Toilet cubicles and wash basins were "absolutely private" and could not be seen on the cameras, he said.
"Parents and staff were shown designs and the student council were involved in the design, so if children had been concerned we would have known immediately," said Mr Carter.
Head teacher of Patchway Community College Jane Millicent said the school now only had two cameras in main thoroughfares and others had been "permanently disconnected some time ago".
Andrea Arlidge, head teacher at Wellsway School, said there were cameras outside toilets but none in changing rooms.
She said: "We have no cameras which invade personal privacy. The cameras are in the general toilet areas and they are used for safety."
Comments
by A_Mushroom
Sunday, September 16 2012, 11:56PM
“I think we are getting soft in this country with anyone allowed to cry that something offends their civil liberties.
Here's the thing. My kids won't use the toilets in their school because of the mess made by vandals and because of the trouble-makers who hang around in there. So if CCTV deters or even catches the little toerags responsible for such behaviour, then good.”
by Veggie
Sunday, September 16 2012, 9:35PM
“I was a parent there at the time and I knew nothing about the CCTV, so parents obviously weren't consulted. But parental consultation isn't something they're very good at at JCA, as they have admitted to me on more than one occasion. That's why they have almost no letters home on their website and do not publish any school policies on there either. If parents ask for a copy of any policy they are fobbed off.
For many years the CCTV at the front of the school didn't work ... that's probably a good place to have CCTV, not to monitor who goes into and out of the toilet. It's an infringement of privacy whether they are just monitoring people going in and out or more than that.”
by lilmizz74
Saturday, September 15 2012, 7:54PM
“Or 'schools defend use of CCTV'”
by Frenchayvoice
Saturday, September 15 2012, 6:38PM
“"Schools defend use of CCTV in school toilets" should read "Schools defend use of CCTV outside school toilets"”
by lilmizz74
Saturday, September 15 2012, 4:07PM
“Whoever thinks of these headings needs a kick up the backside!”
by DeanBlake
Saturday, September 15 2012, 12:25PM
“May I say how shocked and deeply saddened I am that a personal attack has been made on an individual from our organisation which has no bearing or furthers this debate.
I suggest you carefully re-read the article and note all the points raised by the latest contributor. I would also like to point out again that this camera was installed after full consultation with parents, student council and staff.
The fundamental priority for this installation or any installation of this type, wherever that may be located, is student safety and not to invade personal privacy.
Dean Blake
Communications Manager
Cabot Learning Federation”
by BCFCfinker
Thursday, September 13 2012, 11:16PM
“Read the article, there were no cameras in toilets.
""" school had cameras covering the entrance to a communal wash area off a corridor"""
"""only recorded the faces of children as they entered from a corridor"""
"""only recorded the faces of children as they entered from a corridor"""
"""the school now only had two cameras in main thoroughfares"""
"""were cameras outside toilets but none in changing rooms"""
There were no cameras IN the toilets, although if you look at the headline, it appears that TP is indicating there was. Very poor journalism.”
by Veggie
Thursday, September 13 2012, 10:35PM
“I'm really quite shocked by this. I would refuse to work at an office with CCTV in the toilets and I would have complained very loudly if I'd known about this while my child was at John Cabot. Is there no privacy, no trust any more? I bet David Carter, empire-builder extraordinaire, doesn't have CCTV in his private toilet at John Cabot.”
by BCFCfinker
Thursday, September 13 2012, 5:08PM
“The article header is pathetic”