Browse Sections

• Education
• Special reports

No ban to photos in Salford

Ben Murch
27/12/2002

PARENTS will still be able to take photographs and make films of their children performing in school productions in Salford.

Fears that paedophiles could get hold of photographs of children taken during school productions spurred the Local Education Authority in Edinburgh, to impose tough new rules.

They announced last week that no parent will be allowed to film or photograph school productions without the permission of every parent of every child taking part.

But Salford schools are defending the right of parents to catch those magic moments of their children treading the boards for posterity.

Clarendon Road Primary headteacher Dave Rogerson said: "We trust our parents. We have a form parents have to fill in if people want photographs of the children at work in school or for use on our new website - but not for them taking their own pictures at events."

Charlestown Primary headteacher Gary Schofield said: "We are carrying on as normal unless the local authority takes a lead. If your child had a special moment in a play, you would want to capture it."

A Salford Council spokesman said the LEA does not have a specific policy on the subject at the moment but is currently engaged in a joint review with Social Services on its child protection guidelines, which will consider the issue of photography in schools.