The government plans to tighten up inspections on ‘illegal’ unregistered schools, which number at least 350 in the UK, according to Ofsted’s report in early March, which may have implications for those who choose to home-educate.
A quarter of the schools were found to be faith based. While these schools can technically be inspected by Ofsted, at least 80 smaller ‘teaching groups’ have been set up, often in warehouses or above shops, and are outside its control. Texts seized from some Islamic faith schools have included instructions on how to beat a wife, instructions that she cannot ‘refuse sexual intercourse without sound reason’, and that celibacy is unlawful. Ofsted suggests that religious extremists are exploiting lax home-education laws.
Increased numbers at home
Home-education numbers have risen by almost 50% in five years to at least 33,000. Amanda Spielman, Chief Inspector at Ofsted, has warned that religious hardliners were exploiting home-schooling rules. ‘If people choose to educate their children at home, once upon a time it would have been the Brighton and Totnes brigades doing their homespun thing, but we are seeing the emergence of things that nobody ever contemplated,’ she said.
