A photography firm has issued an apology to parents after additional school pictures removed children with “complex needs”.
Parents were left shocked and outraged after it emerged a photographer working for Tempest Photography took additional images of a P5 class at Aboyne Primary School, in Aberdeenshire, without children with additional support needs.
One of the children removed from the images was a wheelchair user whose twin sister was left “distraught”.
The Cornwall-based photography firm – which employs local photographers to take school photos across the UK – has said it “deeply regrets” the hurt caused.
The business initially said it had launched an investigation but has now given reassurances to customers that it “is not standard procedure” and added the company is taking the matter “very seriously”.
The statement, published on X, formerly Twitter, 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.”
Aberdeenshire Council also apologised to parents after the issue was flagged, stating the decision was not taken by the school.
The link to purchase the photos was also immediately removed.
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.
“Aboyne is an inclusive school and every single child should be included, engaged and involved in their learning and school experiences.”
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