Can you silence parents’ WhatsApp groups?
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Can you silence parents’ school WhatsApp groups?
Why parents have every right to speak up about schools without fear of arrest or expulsion
Lately, we’ve heard from more and more parents being warned or even threatened for speaking out about what’s happening in their children’s schools. Whether it's a post on social media, a comment at a board meeting, or a conversation in a WhatsApp group, some schools seem to think they can control what parents say outside the school gates. Let’s be clear: they can’t and they shouldn’t.
Not every criticism of a school or its teachers is harassment
Why am I being threatened for speaking up?
Protecting teachers doesn’t mean gagging parents
What if the school or police contact me over a WhatsApp group?
Not every criticism of a school or its teachers is harassment
In a healthy democracy, parents have not just the right, but the responsibility, to speak up when something isn’t right. You don’t give up that right just because your child is enrolled in a school. Whether it’s concerns about curriculum, policies, leadership, or how a specific situation was handled, your voice matters.
Some schools and councils are trying to blur the line- suggesting that any criticism of teachers or school decisions is somehow “unfair,” “harassment,” or “abuse.” That’s simply not true in many cases. Criticism- especially when it’s honest and focused on ideas, policies, or performance- is protected speech. Just like everyone else in society, parents also have the right to let off steam, to consult, to discuss, to raise issues and to have conversations within a close circle of people- without necessarily having any intent to harass.
Harassment, by legal definition, involves a pattern of behaviour intended to cause distress or alarm. Most parents who participate in WhatsApp groups do so for entirely legitimate reasons and without any intention to harass. These forums are used to share concerns, gather information, and seek mutual support, not to target or harm anyone. That distinction matters.
Why am I being threatened for speaking up?
Let’s call it what it is: an attempt to silence uncomfortable conversations. Too often, schools say they want parent feedback- until it’s not flattering. Instead of responding to concerns, they try to shut down the conversation entirely.
We've seen vague threats of defamation, warnings about “inappropriate behaviour,” and even attempts to ban parents from school grounds, all because they spoke up. Here’s the key point: schools don’t have jurisdiction over what you say outside of school. They have no real authority to police your private posts, group chats, or conversations at the park. They almost never accept responsibility for what pupils say or do outside of school, so why should they claim power over what parents say?
In fact, some schools have resorted to involving the police in an effort to silence parents' conversations outside of school. Unfortunately, in some cases, the police are all too willing to intervene. This has created troubling situations where a parent who might otherwise struggle to report harassment to the police or get help for a stolen car or a break-in at home, find themselves facing a caution, arrest, or even prosecution simply for criticising a head teacher/ a school on social media or in a private group chat.
Schools are not democracies
It helps to understand something fundamental about schools: they are hierarchical by design. In many ways, their structure mirrors that of the military. At the top is the head teacher, overseen by the board of governors. Then come the deputy head, assistant heads, department heads, classroom teachers, and finally the pupils. Parents, in this structure, are often not part of the organisation at all. They're outsiders.
This kind of structure depends on compliance and clear chains of command. It trains people to follow orders and defer to authority. So it’s perhaps not surprising that some head teachers struggle to accept external criticism. When someone from outside the hierarchy like a parent raises concerns, it disrupts the chain of command. It challenges the established order.
Here's the thing: schools are not democracies. They're not built around open debate or individual expression. They're designed for structure, order, and control. That mindset can make it very difficult for those in leadership, especially head teachers, to appreciate or even understand the value of free speech. For many, it's simply not how their world works.
When a head teacher tries to suppress a parent's right to speak out, it's often not malice: it's a mindset problem. They may genuinely not grasp the importance of open discourse but that doesn't make it acceptable.
Protecting teachers doesn’t mean gagging parents
Of course, no one is saying teachers should be harassed or personally attacked. That’s not what this is about. But there's a big difference between harassment and healthy criticism. If a teacher is part of a public institution especially one funded by taxpayers then conversations about their performance or conduct, as long as they’re not threatening or defamatory, are fair game.
Protecting teachers doesn’t require silencing parents. It requires clear, respectful dialogue, and sometimes that includes tough questions. That’s part of how schools improve.
What if the school or police contact me over a WhatsApp group?
If you’re a parent who’s been warned, pressured, or shamed into silence- don’t back down. You are well within your rights to share your opinion, raise concerns, and advocate for your child and your community. That includes private conversations with other parents.
It is completely healthy and normal for parents to form WhatsApp groups outside of school, just as it is healthy for children to do the same. These groups are an important space for discussion, support, and shared understanding. Schools have no right to police or interfere with these private conversations.
Participating in a group chat is not misconduct, and expressing views even critical ones about the school or specific teachers does not justify threats or intimidation. These are private, often small-group conversations where parents have a legitimate expectation of privacy. Criticism expressed in that context is part of a free society. Nor do the police have the right to arrest or intimidate parents for participating in such groups. Sharing opinions, feelings, or information about schools, head teachers, or policies is not a crime.
If the police approach you, or if a school suggests your child may be punished or excluded because of your involvement in a WhatsApp group, don’t be fearful and don’t let it slide. Get in touch with us. We will support you in your dealings with the school, and if it comes to it, we will represent you at the police station to ensure your rights are upheld. If necessary, we will help you take legal action for any unlawful arrest connected to your participation in such discussions. Our firm defends free speech and believes in standing up for parents who are being pushed into silence. If you're facing threats or pressure for simply speaking your mind, get in touch. We’re here to help.
