School class photo excludes pupils ‘with complex needs’

A COUNCIL has apologised after parents were offered primary school class photos that excluded pupils with complex needs.

Parents whose children attend Aboyne Primary in Aberdeenshire were horrified and complained after being sent a link from a photography company offering them two versions of the class pictures.

The mother of a child with additional support needs said she was left “absolutely heartbroken” after her child was removed from her school photo.

Natalie Pinnell said it was “inhumane” that the photographer chose to take two pictures of her daughter Erin’s P5 class, one including her child and one without.

Aberdeenshire council called the decision “totally unacceptable” and emphasised it was not a decision taken by the school. However, the local authority said it was “sincerely sorry.”

Tempest Photography, which is based in Cornwall but employs local photographers, told the Aberdeen-based Press and Journal: “We are investigating the situation with the school, and have no further comment.”

The company has removed the link to the alternative versions of the class photos at the request of the school, and they are no longer available to purchase. But Ms Pinnell told the newspaper: “To give people the option to erase my daughter from history for the sake of optics is frankly inhumane.

“It’s actually like a physical pain, having your child removed like that. Thankfully, Erin isn’t aware of it, and neither are the other pupils who were removed.”

She praised the support she had received from other parents, whom she said were “equally outraged” and had boycotted purchasing the photos in solidarity with her daughter.

Ms Pinnell said she had opened the first of two links she had received from the Tempest and a class photo popped up without Erin. “When I asked the head teacher why there were two versions, that was the first they knew about it,” she said.

Although she praised the school’s response, and emphasised it was not to blame, she argued that its contract with Tempest should be cancelled. It is understood the school has intimated it will not use the company again.

Lisa Boyd’s daughter Lily Nicolson was also removed from an ‘alternative’ version of her class photo. She said: “We as a family feel deeply disappointed and frankly furious.”

Tempest Photography approached for comment.