Aberdeenshire pupils with complex needs ‘erased’ from school photo

Parents have complained their children were being “erased from history” after a version of their school’s class photos excluded children with additional support needs.

A photographer working for Tempest Photography took separate pictures of the P5 class at Aboyne primary school in Aberdeenshire, with the children with additional needs reportedly removed from one set. Parents were then sent a link with both versions to choose from.

It was reported that a set of twins was split up so that the child who uses a wheelchair was excluded from one version.

Natalie Pinnell, whose daughter Erin was among those excluded from a set of photographs, told the Press and Journal: “I am absolutely heartbroken. Furious. A lot of the other parents have decided not to purchase their school photos in support. That means a lot.

“To give people the option to erase my daughter from history for the sake of optics is frankly inhumane. One of the cruellest things that I’ve ever experienced. Me and the other parents just feel devastated beyond belief.”

Pinnell said the school was not aware of the decision to take two sets of photos and investigated immediately once it was alerted by parents.

A second parent, Lisa Boyd, told the newspaper her daughter Lily – who is a wheelchair user – was removed from an alternative photo, leaving the nine-year-old’s twin sister devastated.

Parents have received an apology from the local council, which said the decision had not been taken by the school, and that the link to the photos has been removed.

The Cornwall-based photography company, which employs local photographers to take school photos across the UK, said it had launched an investigation. It said: “We are currently investigating the situation with the school and have no further comment.”

Aberdeenshire council said: “We are aware that following Aboyne primary school’s recent school class photographs, links to purchase the pictures included images with and without complex needs provision pupils.

“Whilst this was not a decision taken by the school, we absolutely appreciate the distress and hurt this has caused some parents and carers and we are sincerely sorry. The issue has been taken up with the photography company directly as this is totally unacceptable.”

The council added: “Aboyne is an inclusive school and every single child should be included, engaged and involved in their learning and school experiences.”

Scotland’s first minister, Humza Yousaf, said that omitting children who have complex needs from some school photographs was “shameful”.

He told PA Media: “It should never have happened at all. I don’t want to see another single example of that anywhere in Scotland. It’s not acceptable, not right. And I’m pleased the council responsible has apologised.”