Concerns Arise Over Surveillance in Ontario Private School

A former student of a private school in London, Ont., along with their parents, are worried that children were being constantly recorded by cameras in the classroom and asked to review the footage with classmates.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) is looking into this issue after receiving a complaint.

Lincoln Sandle, 11, was enrolled at Infinity School from August 2023 until January 2026 while he was in Grades 3 through 5.

He shared that a common activity involved watching videos of himself and his peers captured by several surveillance cameras placed throughout the school.

“The whole class was in one room, and we had a projector and we watched us with audio,” Lincoln said. “[We watched] how we were misbehaving and who needed the most help.

“People watching me is weird. I just don’t like people invading my privacy.”

WATCH | 11-year-old explains how surveillance cameras were used at his former school:

Family describes how surveillance cameras were used in son’s classroom

Lincoln Sandle, 11, explains how he and his classmates watched and critiqued surveillance camera footage from his private school in London, Ont. The school, Infinity School, is part of a U. S.-based network called Acton Academy. Its owners say cameras are a “tool” for learning and leadership. Lincoln’s father, Greg Sandle, also expresses concerns about how camera usage can impact children’s well-being.

Both of Lincoln’s parents consented to having him interviewed and photographed for this story. 

According to its website, Infinity School emphasizes hands-on learning that encourages self-direction.

It’s affiliated with Acton Academy, which is a network of schools based in the U. S. that focus on Socratic discussions and project-based “quests.” Each institution operates independently under “parent entrepreneurs” who must adhere to high standards of excellence as outlined on their website.

A map available on the website indicates nearly 300 Acton schools globally, including nine located in Canada. 

Infinity School occupies space within a church building situated in London’s Wortley Village for its multi-grade classrooms and additional facilities. Lincoln estimates there were about ten cameras throughout the school including areas like classrooms, hallways, the gymnasium, and library.

Infinity School in London rents out a church building in the Wortley Village neighbourhood for its classes. (Kendra Seguin/)

“You couldn’t really talk about anything private with your friends,” Lincoln mentioned. “It just cages us up.”

In an email statement shared jointly with , Jake Thompson from Acton Academy Network alongside Infinity School principal Eric Brown stated that cameras are intended as tools within educational settings.

“At Acton, we trust young people with responsibility for their own learning; an important aspect is leadership,” Thompson noted separately via email. “Cameras enable learners to document their experiences so they can reflect on them.”

Neither Thompson nor Brown responded when CBC requested interviews.

Consent Issues Raised

Greg Sandle expressed he wasn’t aware that Infinity School had installed cameras when he first registered his two kids but noticed them during visits to the campus.

“I thought they were just for security … I didn’t believe that the cameras would be used for anything other than what I thought they were intended for-just safety of kids at school,” Sandle explained.

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