Dear Parents, Guardians, and Concerned Community Members,

We are writing to bring urgent attention to a deeply concerning issue: CCTV cameras have been installed inside student toilet areas at Cottesloe School in Buckinghamshire. This action has been taken without clear communication to parents and in direct contradiction of the school’s own CCTV policy as of June 2024.

According to Section 1.1 of that policy, the school explicitly states:

“The CCTV system will not be used to encroach on an individual's right to privacy or monitor people in spaces where they have a heightened expectation of privacy, including toilets and changing rooms.”
Despite this, CCTV cameras were recently placed inside toilet facilities. Upon raising concerns, the school acknowledged the inappropriate placement and stated the cameras would be relocated outside the toilet entrances. However, it has since come to light that during a governors’ meeting on 8 July 2025, the school’s CCTV policy was retrospectively amended to permit the continued use of surveillance within these sensitive areas.

This raises several serious concerns:

Parents were not properly informed or consulted before such a significant change affecting their children’s privacy.
The school has failed to communicate any alternative measures considered before resorting to surveillance in private areas.
This action may potentially violate the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, which requires that CCTV usage be proportionate and respectful of individuals’ privacy.
There are many non-invasive alternatives the school could explore—such as increased staff presence, access control measures like keypads or fingerprint entry, and supervised break times—none of which require breaching students' privacy in a space where they should feel most safe and unmonitored.

As parents and guardians, we trust our schools to protect our children—not to surveil them in private areas. We believe that this decision undermines that trust and must be reconsidered.

We demand that Cottesloe School:

Immediately remove all CCTV cameras from inside toilet areas.
Reinstate the original CCTV policy protecting students' privacy.
Provide full transparency and consultation with parents on any future policy changes involving student surveillance.
 
📣 Your Support is Urgently Needed
I have a scheduled meeting with the school within the next week to raise these concerns directly. I would be incredibly grateful for as much support as possible before then. Every signature will help demonstrate the strength of community feeling on this issue and the importance of restoring our children’s right to privacy.

Please add your name and share this petition widely. Together, we can protect our children’s dignity, safety, and trust.