Should ‘Big Brother’ enter the classroom?

Story link: Should ‘Big Brother’ enter the classroom? by Jan Harris

Stockwell Park High School in south London is the latest school to install CCTV cameras in an effort to improve safety.

CCTV is commonly used to monitor school premises, but there seems to be a growing trend for it to be used in the classroom, as well as being used externally and to monitor entrances and corridors.

At Stockwell Park, which is being rebuilt, at least 68 cameras have been installed and this number could double when the site is completed.

A system gaining in popularity is provided by private company Classwatch, which has installed CCTV systems in classrooms in nearly 100 schools so far, at a cost of £5,000 per classroom.

Classwatch systems provide high-definition colour cameras as well as audio equipment.

Many staff, children and parents are supportive of the use of CCTV in the classroom from a safety point of view.

Monitoring classes in this way can reduce bullying, cut truancy and help to resolve complaints against staff.

An issue that is raising great concern, however, is the potential for covert surveillance of pupils and staff.

There is also concern that teachers would not be able to act naturally if they knew they were constantly under surveillance, which could adversely affect their teaching performance.

Teachers’ unions, including the NASUWT and NUT have both expressed concern over the use of CCTV in the classroom.

Footage taken by the Classwatch system is stored for a month and access is password-protected and controlled by school governors.