Photography firm apologises for class photo without additional support needs pupils

A photography company has apologised after parents at an Aberdeenshire school were offered class photos with or without children with additional support needs.

Parents at Aboyne Primary expressed their anger after it emerged parents were sent separate links to purchase the alternative photos.

Tempest Photography has now "sincerely" apologised to all parents and children involved.

The statement, published on X said: "Recently, after capturing a class group photograph, one of our photographers took additional images of the class group which omitted some members of the class from the photograph.

"We deeply regret any upset this has caused and would like to sincerely apologise to the parents and children affected.

"We are a family-run business and photograph at schools across the UK and would like to reassure our customers that this is not standard procedure for our company and we are taking this matter very seriously.

"We are committed to implementing meaningful changes to prevent such an occurrence in the future."

Parents "shocked"

One parent, Natalie Pinnell, said she is still recovering from the shock after she realised her daughter with additional support needs had been removed from one of the pictures.

She contacted the school who investigated with the photography company and the link was removed.

After speaking with other parents she realised it wasn't just her daughter who had been affected.

Natalie said: "It was three kids who were affected so, three families had the option of their child being erased from history basically.

"And that's just never going to be okay in my books. It's not something I am going to lay down and accept."

Natalie praised how supportive Aboyne Primary has been throughout the situation and the work they do as an inclusive school.

Local authority apologises

Aberdeenshire Council also apologised to parents after the issue was flagged, stating the decision was not taken by the school.

On Thursday, a spokesperson for the local authority 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.

"Aboyne is an inclusive school and every single child should be included, engaged and involved in their learning and school experiences.”