Purpose
To explain to parents/carers:
- how Leongatha Secondary College collects, uses and discloses photographs, video and recordings of students
- when parent/carer consent is required before photographing, filming and recording students
- how consent can be provided and withdrawn.
Scope
This policy applies to the general collection, use and disclosure of photographs, video and recordings (images) of students.
The policy does not cover the:
- use of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV). The use of CCTV is covered in the department’s CCTV in Schools Policy.
- use and disclosure of photographs, video and recordings of adults.
Policy
There are many occasions during the school year where Leongatha Secondary College staff photograph, film or record students participating in school activities or events, for example classroom activities, sports events, concerts, excursions, camps etc.
We do this for many reasons including to celebrate student participation and achievement, showcase learning programs, document a student’s learning journey/camps/excursions/sports events, communicate with our parents/carers and school community in newsletters and on school communication tool, Compass. There may also be occasions where we take images to support student behaviour management or to fulfil legal obligations. Further detail is provided within this policy.
In addition to the above, there may be situations where a third party requests to take, use or disclose images of students.
This policy outlines the practices that Leongatha Secondary College has in place for the collection, use and disclosure of images of students to ensure compliance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic). It also explains the circumstances in which we will seek parent/carer consent and how consent can be provided and withdrawn.
Consent
The Photographing, Filming and Recording Students Consent Form is provided by Leongatha Secondary College at enrolment. This form applies to standard uses of images for the time your child attends the school. Standard uses are defined in the following sections.
For non-standard uses, where consent is required, parents/carers will be sent a consent form for that specific situation. Schools will also notify parents when implementing software that may include photos of students, giving parents an opportunity to discuss any concerns or preferences.
If at any time parents/carers wish to withdraw their consent, they can by contacting the Office on 5667 2200. If consent is withdrawn verbally, the school will make a written record of this. However:
- if the images have already been published and are in the public domain, it may not be possible to remove them
- the school can still collect, use and disclose images in circumstances where consent is not required (see below for more information).
Image use within the physical school environment
Leongatha Secondary College may photograph, film or record students to use within the physical school environment, including:
- for display in school classrooms, on notice boards etc
- in the school’s communication, learning and teaching tools (for example, emails, classroom blogs or apps that can only be accessed by students, parents or school staff with passwords eg Compass)
A Photographing, Filming and Recording Students Consent Form will be given to parents/carers on enrolment for the standard uses described above. Consent, if given, applies until it is withdrawn or changed. If a parent/carer would like to withdraw or change their consent at any point in time, they must notify the school.
Image use within the school community
Leongatha Secondary College may photograph, film or record students to use within the school community, including:
- in the school’s communication, learning and teaching tools (for example, emails, classroom blogs or apps that can only be accessed by students, parents or school staff with passwords eg Compass)
- for display in school classrooms, on notice boards etc
- on the College website
A Photographing, Filming and Recording Students Consent Form will be given to parents/carers on enrolment for the standard uses described above. Consent, if given, applies until it is withdrawn or changed. If a parent/carer would like to withdraw or change their consent at any point in time, they must notify the school.
Image use beyond the school community
Photographs, video or recordings of students may also be used in publications that are accessible to the public, including:
- on the school’s website
- on the school’s social media accounts
- in the school magazine
A Photographing, Filming and Recording Students Consent Form will be given to parents/carers on enrolment for the standard uses described above. Consent, if given, applies until it is withdrawn or changed. If a parent/carer would like to withdraw or change their consent at any point in time, they must notify the school.
We will notify you individually if we are considering using any images of your child for specific advertising or promotional purposes.
Media
The media, or the Department of Education’s media team, may seek to photograph, film or record students for a news story or school event. This may include broadcast media, online or social media or print media, including newspapers and magazine publications.
When Leongatha Secondary College receives such requests, our school will:
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- provide parents/carers with information about the organisation involved and when and for what purposes the photography, filming or recording will occur
- seek prior, express parent/carer consent in writing.
Students will only be photographed, filmed or recorded by the media at school if express consent is provided for that specific media event. Neither the school nor the department own or control any photographs, video or recordings of students taken by the media.
Research
On occasion, the school may agree to research projects being conducted at the school. If this occurs, parent/carer consent will be sought for student participation, including any photography or recording of students.
Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)
Parent or carer consent is not required for a school to install CCTV. However, Leongatha Secondary College will inform the school community of the intention to install a CCTV through (appropriate channels such as: a newsletter article; a statement on the school website; posted material within the school grounds). Our school’s CCTV system is managed in accordance with the department’s CCTV Installation and Management Policy. Further information about how CCTV is managed and operated is available in our CCTV Privacy Notice.
Other external collection, use or disclosure
If there is a situation which will involve the collection, use or disclosure of images of students by or to third parties which is not otherwise covered by this policy, Leongatha Secondary College will:
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- provide parents/carers with information about the event or activity, the organisation involved and when the photography, filming or recording will occur
- seek prior, express parent/carer consent in writing.
Official school photographs
Each year Leongatha Secondary College will arrange for a professional photographer to take official school photographs of students. This will generally involve both class photos and individual photos being taken.
Official school photographs may be:
- purchased by parents/carers
- used for school identification cards and student identity verification letters
- stored on CASES21 for educational and administrative purposes.
Leongatha Secondary College will notify parents/carers in advance of the official school photographs being taken to give them an opportunity to decide whether their child will be included in the photographs.
Parents/carers who choose to opt out of having their child participate in official school photographs must contact the School Office on 5667 2200 before the date photos are scheduled to be taken to advise that their child will not participate. There is no obligation on any parent or carer to purchase any photographs taken. However, the school will need to discuss with these parents/carers alternative arrangements for identifying students in emergencies and for other essential purposes.
Images to manage student behaviour or fulfil our school’s legal obligations, including child safety
On occasion, it may be necessary for school staff to photograph, film or record students and/or use images to:
- fulfil legal obligations, including to:
- take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of reasonably foreseeable harm to students, staff and visitors (duty of care)
- provide a safe and suitable workplace (occupational health and safety law)
- supporting students’ social and emotional wellbeing, and health (duty of care)
- for identification purposes, when necessary to implement discipline and/or behaviour management policies.
Leongatha Secondary College does not require or obtain consent from parents/carers or students to photograph, film or record students, or to use these images, for these reasons. However, when Leongatha Secondary College photographs, films or records a student for any of these purposes, staff will only collect and use such images in a way that is necessary, reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances.
Child Safe Standards
Leongatha Secondary College will use student images reasonably, appropriately and sensitively, consistent with our obligations under the Child Safe Standards and our school’s Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy. If at any time a parent/carer or student has a concern about the use of any images they should contact the School Office on 5667 2200.
Curriculum-based activities
Photographs, film and recordings of students may be collected and used for curriculum-based activities (i.e. class work) as part of standard learning and teaching practices. Leongatha Secondary College does not require or obtain consent for this. Access is limited to students and relevant teaching staff. Parents/carers may have access to images of their own child in this context.
Professional development
Occasionally, teachers and classes may be recorded for professional development purposes to improve the delivery of educational services. Leongatha Secondary College does not require or obtain consent for this, however the recordings will only be used internally and for the specific purpose of staff development.
Storage of images
Photographs, video and recordings of students taken by Leongatha Secondary College will be stored in our secure document storage systems with restricted access. Any photographs, videos or recordings made on devices, including non-school issued devices, will be transferred to secure school systems and removed from the devices as soon as reasonably possible.
Images taken by the school community
Leongatha Secondary College permits parents/carers, students and invited guests to photograph, film or record school performances, sporting events and other school-approved activities.
Leongatha Secondary College requests that parents/carers, students and invited guests who photograph, film or record school activities only do so for their own personal use and do not publish the images in any form, including on social media, without the prior consent of persons whose children also appear in the images.
Neither the school nor the department own or control any images of students taken by parents/carers, students or their invited guests at school activities.
Communication
This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:
- On enrolment
- An annual reminder on Compass
- Available publicly on our school’s website
- Discussed at staff briefings/meetings, as required
- Hard copy available from school administration upon request
Further information and resources
The department’s Policy and Advisory Library: Photographing, Filming and Recording Students