Hundreds Of Pupils 'hidden' In Illegal Schools

[naomi24]

Schools inspectors have expressed "extreme concern" about the number of children being taught in illegal schools.

//In a letter to Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw warned: "The evidence that they have gathered so far during this short period firmly reinforces my belief that there are many more children hidden away from the view of the authorities in unregistered schools across the country than previously thought… I therefore remain extremely concerned about the number of children and young people attending these schools who may be at significant risk of harm and indoctrination."//

http://news.sky.com/story/1696898/hundreds-of-pupils-hidden-in-illegal-schools

These children are slipping under the radar completely so banning all faith schools won't cure the problem - so what is the answer?

[mushroom25]

clearly there's a demand for these illegal establishments, which tends to suggest that mainstream education isn't meeting the needs of those who feel compelled to send their kids to illegal schools.

maybe the authorities need to make the effort to find out what parents want from the education system for their children.

[Old_Geezer]

Annual mini census to ensure the community knows who is where (with stiff penalties for lies/non-compliance) ? Would be a start to know where vulnerable people were. Of course travellers who won't join the rest of the community but up and move as the mood takes them, and insist they have the right to 'drop anchor' anywhere, may remain a problem area.

[fiction-factory]

I wonder whether child benefit is claimed for these children. If so, there must already be a record of them

[Old_Geezer]

I would be suspicious of parents who want more than a good education and the teaching of good morals for their offspring. There is a limit on the idea that the parents know best. Not that I'd want state control of everything, but society needs to ensure kids are effectively not being abused nor brainwashed to oppose decent cultural norms here.

[david small]

Hidden in plain sight.

[jourdain2]

Saddened, but not all that surprised. As O_G suggests, a rigorous census each year in each area - no excuses. All births must be registered properly (not sure they all are) and homes visited to assess the situation of each child.
Costly, but probably not as costly as not doing it.

Then there is the question of 'home educating' - many people do this successfully, so is it fair to ban it? Most Christian faith schools provide a good education, giving a broad spectrum on religion, banning faith schools won't work (but ALL faith schools must comply with the regs.).

Rigorous registration and follow-up is all I can suggest.

[atalanta]

This arrangement dates from a time long ago when some families, too aristocratic even to send their children to private schools, had tutors and governesses instead. Now, "Home schooling" has become anarchy. Since tutors disappeared, it was meant to allow parents to be personal teachers for their children at home, but now (mostly) religious schools have sprung up to save parents the trouble. Boys may spend almost every hour of their "school" day studying scripture, and end up with no skills needed by any employer. Girls may be taught cooking, cleaning and looking after Granny. This might be slightly more useful for some jobs, but not if the English language is omitted. Local councils have few obligations towards such children.
"Home schooling" is now a century out of date and should be immediately abolished. All normal healthy children should be registered with known reputable schools which must teach the whole curriculum with a view to producing integrated young adults fit for employment or further study.

[EDDIE51]

I have commented on this previously. A school which relies totally on fees and donations for its income and has no funding from any public source can ONLY be inspected by Ofsted if it actually requests an inspection.
This does not just apply to 'faith schools' but most of them are.

[New Judge]

"...which tends to suggest that mainstream education isn't meeting the needs of those who feel compelled to send their kids to illegal schools. "

There are plenty of reasons why some parents feel the need of a school outside the "mainstream". And few of them have anything to do with the quality of education involved.

[Togo]

//This arrangement dates from a time long ago when some families, too aristocratic even to send their children to private schools, had tutors and governesses instead// As posted @ 19:58

How does what happened centuries ago in Britain have any bearing on what is written below and quoted in the op link. Do you really think that what happened back then has any bearing or even relevance to what is being taught in what appear to be radical muslim illegal prep schools?

//In December, the Education Secretary said she was determined to "eradicate" schools that are illegally set up with a narrow Islam-focused curriculum, as part of the Government's commitment to "tackling extremism in all its forms".
The Ofsted chief has said that the schools are "placing children at risk and undermining the Government's efforts to ensure that all schools are promoting British values, including tolerance and respect for others."
Inspections have uncovered "serious fire hazards, including obstructed exits and inaccessible fire escapes", Sir Michael wrote.
In one case, inspectors found "chemicals and chemistry equipment in an unlocked food cupboard in a room where children ate their lunch".//

[KARL]

There is clearly not infallibly a connection between children of school age and the authorities which are supposed to ensure and/or follow up that all children attend school in accordance with the law. In fact, generally the authorities do not know of nor can they locate all those who (legally) are resident/exist in the country, adults or children. I know of no other country in Europe with such poor oversight.

[EDDIE51]

If the children are those of illegal immigrants we have no way of even knowing they exist, let alone what school they go to./

[Togo]

//There is clearly not infallibly a connection between children of school age and the authorities which are supposed to ensure and/or follow up that all children attend school in accordance with the law//

KARL, there isn't even a connection between the payment of child benefits or family tax credits, and the attendance in recognised schools, of the children who are being radicalised if male or subjugated if they are female. We must be mad. For Welfare State read We'll fear State.

[KARL]

Togo, the UK's management systems are deliberately, and with widespread public support, disjointed. The consequences are inefficiency in all senses of the word, including those you mention. There appear to be no moves or even mood to approach things in the ways other European countries do (tried, tested and working well) and howls of protest/derision arise any time it is suggested the UK should consider this. Not long ago that was the case when a French politician/minister in exasperation mentioned how difficult it is to deal with the British because of this. Possible radicalisation of children or adults is but a marginal issue compared to the rest of the whole and in any case it might go on much the same, just outside school hours even if the management systems were actually as good as abroad.

[Gromit]

Basically we are talking about orthodox Jewish indoctrination.

Nothing will be done because the Jewish Lobby have got the British political eatablishment, sewn up like akipper.

[Buenchico]

Sky News seems to be running about a month and a half behind BBC News!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35928801

[naomi24]

Gromit, //Basically we are talking about orthodox Jewish indoctrination. //

That's inaccurate. There are far more Islamic schools, which is unsurprising since many of these establishments were discovered in Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Luton - none of which house a high Jewish population.

//Roughly a third of them were Islamic and a sixth either Christian or Jewish.//

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-36302054

[KARL]

Naomi, I have not looked up your link so the first indication I have of the make-up of these unregistered schools is through your figures. They in turn suggest that a combined total of roughly 50% were Jewish based, Muslim ones or Christian - does that then mean that the other half were mainstream/non-denominational (i.e. what quite a few would refer to as "indigenous") ? If so it could be argued that each of the first three may be minority considerations/concerns.

[naomi24]

Karl, I have no idea what the rest are, but I don't believe that those we do know about should ever be considered 'minority considerations/concerns'.

[andy-hughes]

mushroom - //clearly there's a demand for these illegal establishments, which tends to suggest that mainstream education isn't meeting the needs of those who feel compelled to send their kids to illegal schools.

maybe the authorities need to make the effort to find out what parents want from the education system for their children. //

It makes no such suggestion at all.

Mainstream education will not offer a curriculum based almost entirely on the a specific faith, excluding virtually every other subject - and only extreme members of that faith would wish for their children to receive such a narrow education.

You could use the imagined 'supply and demand' argument in absolutely any and all walks of life and culture.

Clearly there is a demand for seriously over-priced poncey coffee shops, but that does not point to an inefficiency in the water coming out of your tap.