Humanists UK welcome calls by Labour today for the immediate introduction of a home school register. The call was made at the Opposition Day Debate on school absences. Such legislation would be an important step in improving the quality of education for children and accountability of educators.
An estimated 6,000 children in England are in ‘unregistered schools’ (also known as ‘illegal schools’). Since 2014 Humanists UK has been campaigning to close these settings, many of which are religious in nature. The education provided in many unregistered religious schools is known to be narrow, predominantly scriptural in its content, and deeply conservative, intolerant, and extreme. Reports of corporal punishment and sexual abuse have also been made about these ‘schools’.
Labour announced plans to introduce a home education register earlier this year, and made the call for an immediate introduction of a register at today’s Opposition Day Debate (23 January 2024). Draft legislation to take action on illegal schools was introduced in the Schools Bill but was dropped by the UK Government in December 2022. In April 2023 a government-sponsored review, the Bloom Review, called for legislation to shut illegal schools.
A Private Members’ Bill was introduced by Conservative MP Flick Drummond in May 2023. This would place a duty on local authorities to maintain a register of all children who are not in school and close a loophole exploited by illegal schools.
Humanists UK Director of Policy and Public Affairs Kathy Riddick said:
‘We welcome calls from Labour for the UK Government to immediately introduce a national home schooling register. There is a desperate need for a register to make sure children have access to appropriate education and are doing so in a safe setting.
‘A home schooling register is only the first step. Legislation is needed to strengthen Ofsted’s powers to take action on suspected illegal schools, and tighten up the definitions of what a ‘school’ is. This would have been addressed in part four of the Schools Bill, and should be brought back in full.’
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For further comment or information, media should contact Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Kathy Riddick at press@humanists.uk or phone 020 3675 0959.
Read our article on how the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse delared that unregistered religious schools represent a clear risk of abuse. Of the Report’s two recommendations, the second was that the government should take action.
Read our report on the government’s decision to drop the Schools Bill
Visit the Schools Bill page on the Parliament website.
Read our article on the Queen’s Speech.
Read our exposé on illegal schools operating during lockdown.
Read more about our work on illegal schools, religious education, and collective worship.
Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 120,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.