A vulnerable boy’s mum was “absolutely mortified” after her son was among pupils named and shamed on a projector screen during an assembly on bullying.
In footage seen by the Watford Observer, six Croxley Danes School students are pictured with numbers of days underneath – believed to relate to how long they had been suspended for.
The headteacher is heard telling the Year 9 assembly: “These students will be actively monitored by my staff, I told my staff watch them at all times now when they return.
“But actually if you also come to me with any concerns you have. They are getting a very clear message from me with a very clear consequence.”
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The school later apologised and admitted it was “an infringement of data”.
A mum of one of the students said: “Knowing full well my son was a vulnerable child and his life changed within a second, the school decides to hold an assembly labelling them as bullies.
“It’s not a mistake – assemblies are planned.”
She said her son had been struggling mentally and emotionally this school year after a serious family issue, which the school knew about, and he had been suspended after a fight in July.
Referring to the assembly, she added: “As a lone parent I’m trying to work hard to get my child in a good place, but the actions have literally taken him back to square one.
“He was targeted in assembly, being called a bully, called unkind.”
She has since withdrawn him from Croxley Danes.
Following the incident earlier this month, the school sent her a letter saying it takes “data protection very seriously” and had sought advice.
It continued: “I have been advised by the Information Commissioner’s Office that the sharing of your son’s information was not a data breach, but an infringement of data.
“This matter has been reviewed to see precisely what happened, why it happened and what actions are necessary to ensure that it never happens again.”
A Danes Educational Trust spokesperson said “there was a data protection incident”, adding: “Measures have been taken to ensure that an incident like this does not occur again and we apologise to the students and families for any upset and concern this caused.”
They said “safeguarding of children remains our priority”, adding: “We will continue to work with all members of our school community to ensure that we provide a safe, supportive and respectful learning environment within which all children can thrive."
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