Robert Lewis, Partner head of the education group at Mishcon de Reya, shared his insights with The Times and BBC Radio 5 Live on the growing trend of schools seeking legal advice to manage parent WhatsApp groups.
With concerns rising over potential liability for abusive comments made in these groups, schools are implementing codes of conduct to protect staff from harassment.
Robert told The Times: "Schools are very concerned about the impact on staff and being held liable for what's been said in class WhatsApp groups and are implementing codes of conduct for parents… As a lawyer advising schools and families on education and safeguarding, I’ve had a front-row seat to the increasingly abusive messages exchanged between children. It can be quite a shock to teenagers to learn that their friends have been keeping a record of what they are communicating to be used against them at a later date."
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