Photography & Video Policy
Covers Vibe Arts' performing arts coaching and activities, including but not limited to Saturday School, LAMDA coaching, school clubs and holiday workshops
Vibe Arts takes the safety and privacy of children and young people extremely seriously as a matter of both legal and moral importance. This policy aims to minimise the risk of inappropriate use of photos and video of children. All colleagues will be familiarised with the provisions contained within this policy as part of their induction and be expected to act in accordance with them at all times.
In compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR, consent is obtained from parents/guardians to allow Vibe Arts to photograph or video pupils. This is obtained through the student enrolment form on the Vibe Arts website. Parents/guardians retain the right to withdraw consent at any stage, but they need to do so in writing.
Should parents/guardians not give permission for their children's photos to be published, Vibe Arts will respect this decision and ensure they do not place such photos on the Vibe Arts website, social media or any other publication.
Who Takes Photographs
Official Vibe Arts photographs are taken continuously, by accredited photographers who are DBS checked, fully insured and chaperoned during their time on the premises, or by our DBS checked staff and teachers themselves.
Photographs taken of children by Vibe Arts should be taken with Vibe Arts cameras or devices only.
Visitors, volunteers and students are not permitted to use their own mobile phones to take or record any images of children for their own records during Vibe Arts session times.
Parents and Guardians at Events
Events such as Show Days and Demonstrations may be recorded by video and photographs by staff and parents/guardians, but always in full view of all attending and in compliance with this policy.
Parents/guardians are not covered by the Data Protection Act 2018 if they are taking photographs or making a video recording for their own private use, and are therefore at liberty to take photographs or make video recordings at our events and showings, unless restricted by existing copyright of certain productions.
Parents/guardians are not permitted, however, to take photographs or make a video recording for anything other than their own personal use, for example with a view to selling videos of a Vibe Arts event. Recording and/or photographing other than for private use would require the consent of the other parents/guardians whose children may be captured on film.
Protecting Students' Identity
To protect the identity of pupils, whenever we name a student, for example in social media posts or exam result announcements, we normally use first names only, and we do not publish other personal details, such as a surname or address, alongside a photograph. Special announcements are only made after the necessary consent has been given by parents/guardians.
Where possible, we use general shots of rehearsal or group activities rather than close-up pictures of individual children. We are also careful to consider the camera angle at which pictures are taken in order to make children less identifiable. We are careful too to ensure that we use images of children in suitable dress, and take care photographing performance events to maintain modesty.
Press
On occasions where the press take photographs of our pupils, we ensure that photos are not published without prior consent from parents/guardians. The manner in which the press use images is controlled through relevant industry codes of practice as well as the law. However, given our responsibility to parents/guardians and pupils, we ensure that broadcasters and press photographers are chaperoned whilst on the premises and are aware of the sensitivity involved in detailed captioning, one-to-one interviews, and close or performance photography.
Website, Social Media and Other Promotional Materials
On occasion we might like to use photographs of children taking part in Vibe Arts sessions to advertise or promote the school, for example via our website, on social media or on flyers. Should Vibe Arts take and use photos of children for marketing or information purposes, every attempt will be made to be representative of the group, for example including, where relevant, images of children from different ethnic backgrounds and positive images of children with disabilities.
The Storage of Photographs
Photographs of pupils are maintained for authorised Vibe Arts use only. If permission is withdrawn for a photograph, it is edited from storage immediately.
Further detail on how we store and protect personal data, including images, is set out in our Privacy Statement, available at our policies page.
Reporting a Concern
Any concern about the inappropriate taking, use, or sharing of images of a child, including anyone taking images of children without consent, should be treated as a safeguarding matter and reported immediately, using the form at www.vibearts.co.uk/concern or by calling 0208 058 18 58. It will be read by our Designated Safeguarding Lead or Deputy.
Review
This policy will be monitored by Matthew Rowland and reviewed regularly.
Matthew Rowland · Designated Safeguarding Lead for Vibe Arts
Alex Turney · Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead for Vibe Arts