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Report on Local Government Conference 14th June 2018

I was asked to speak at the LGA Education Conference on the 14th June. I've written a short report of what transpired.

New research: "No evidence of radicalisation"

New research (PDF) by the charity, Personalised Education Now, failed to find any evidence of radicalisation in the home education community.

The research, conducted over a protracted period, included sending FOI's to the UK Government and Local Government, interrogating Interpol's database and searching new agency reports and the internet generally.

Not one method found any evidence supporting the claim that radicalisation had occurred within the home education community, thus exposing the repeated slur that home education was a risk to national security.

Draft consultation from the DfE

DfE consultation link

Following Lord Soley's attempt to pass a private members bill the Department of Education has proposed some changes to their guidence on home education which is currently out for consultation, so, particularly, if you are an experienced home educator, I encourage you to look at the link (above) and comment.

The draft contains some, frankly, odd, even bizzarre, ideas. However, even when these are ironed out, the guidence remains draconion in nature. It will present nearly all home educators with unprecedented problems. The guidence remains unencombered with evidence. One of the most obnoxious and discriminatory measures, indeed it's most fundamental one, is to propose that all home educators, like paedofiles should be registered.

Lord Soley's Bill

HL11 2017

Two Labour Lords: Baroness Morris of Yardley on behalf of Lord Soley have proposed a private members bill restricting the ancient rights of parents to educate without state interference.

This bill has had it's second reading in the HoL. The Government have said they do not intend to add compulsory registration to the legislation, which suggests the bill will not get Government support. Instead the bill seems to have created a moral panic leading the government to take some form of action (see above)

However, a face book group, set up specifically to oppose the Bill have produced a

Briefing Paper

which addresses many of the issues the Bill raises.

Home Education - a human right

"The respect of parent's freedom to educate their children according to their vision of what education should be has been part of international human rights standards since their very emergence."

(The Special Rapporteur to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights 8th April 1999)

Parents are responsible for the education of their offspring regardless of whether they are in school or out of it. In law the right to an education is an obligatory right, it may neither be denied to, nor refused by, a child.

Thus since children may not refuse education and there is no academic consensus on what constitutes an effective education, we believe that the state must be flexible in defining what a 'suitable' education is.

Even though the law expresses the right to home educate as a parental right, it is my belief that, in the same way that young people have the right to decide upon medical procedures, a specific education should not be imposed upon them. This is not only right in principle but in practice, since intrinsically motivated learning will most readily "achieve that which it sets out to achieve". Learning cannot happen against a person's wishes.

New Green Party Policy

The above policy is good as far as it goes, but one should notice that it does not rule out the possibility of registration and monitoring, indeed it says nothing one way or another. On the other hand it does support flexischooling.

Buck's LA biased position on home education

The form of education a family chooses for their children is, in law and by international human rights treaty, a matter primarily for the family, not the state. However, Buck's LA have openly stated that they intend to divert such children back into school so as to save money. This shows a bias on the part of the LA, which, as the prosecuting authority should maintain an unbiased position.

Local authorities are the prosecuting authority in matters relating to educational suitability and home education. If a family refuses to follow the demands of a School Attendance Order, and the LA subsequently presents evidence for their failure to suitably educate their children, it can lead to the parents receiving a criminal conviction. As the propsecuting authority the LA must maintain an unbiased view otherwise, it is reasonable to argue that the evidence itself may be biased.

If an LA is actively seeking a policy to 'divert' home educated children into school, then the question arises as to what extent they can be said to be unbiased. In which case the evidence they are presenting and the very rational they develop to prosecute the case is suspect.

Lib dems' new policy on Home Education

In the spring the Liberal Democrats passed a new education policy document. Section 9 relates to home education:

It provides for home educators to follow the National Curriculum and have twice yearly inspections, a demand which exceed those of either Lord Soley or Badman.

I strongly urge everyone who opposes them to write to the Lib Dems using their contact page.

Please remain polite, stick to the point while expressing yourself firmly.

I attended a meeting at the House of Lords on 13th March 2018 regarding this new policy.

I have a report of the meeting here. (requires further editing)

It seems they are reconsidering their policy, please read the report of my meeting. They also have some interesting points regarding Lord Soley's bill.

Educational Heretics Press

Paperbacks & Kindles

EHP publishes books and kindles on many topics related to home education and learning systems that are alternative or complimentary to state schooling. Including books on how and why home educators home educate.

A great introduction to alternative education.

Many EHP books are available as Kindles, at low prices and you don't need a kindle to read them, there are app's for all brands of smart phone and tablet. Build your own library of 'read anywhere' EHP titles.

Get a free A4 poster

Many parents remain unaware that home education is legal, or if they do, where to find support.

This poster could be put up anywhere parents and children might benefit, You could ask to put this up on your Library for example. Download the poster today, print it, post it somewhere and help a child learn free.