Whilst we like to use photographs of children in and around the school and occasionally in the press as a means of promoting our school, we are aware that there is a general concern about the possibility of children being identified by a photograph in the Press or in the filming of a school event. Having taken advice from Surrey Police, Surrey County Council (Local Authority) and other organisations, we believe that such as risk is so small that, provided reasonable steps are in place to limit the publication of their names and addresses, photography of children at school should continue, in line with the policy set out below.

Our policy is to broadly follow the Department for Education (DfE) advice “If the pupil is named, avoid using the photograph. If the photograph is used, avoid naming the pupil.” We will not use children’s full names alongside their photograph in the school’s own publications, in video/films or on our website. However, pupils’ first names may be used, and their full names may be given in group situations where they cannot be linked to individuals in the photograph.

With regard to the press, the school will allow local newspapers to take photographs of the children when appropriate, provided that parental consent has been given. Newspapers insist that children’s names must be published with their photographs, without this consent they will decline to cover school events. Therefore we normally give children’s full names (but not addresses) to newspapers and we will seek an understanding that a child’s name will not be used if their image is put on the newspaper’s own website.

Although it is fairly rare for television companies to visit the school, your consent for newspaper photographs would also apply to television images. However, children’s names are not normally given on television and we would seek specific permission from you if your child’s name were to be used.