Growing concern over troublesome students excluded from mainstream schools and then placed in alternative provisions, has sparked huge debate.
In Radio 4's Today Programme, head of Ofsted, Sir Michael Wilshaw expressed his irritation and scorn at supposedly 'illegal schools'. Asked by the presenter on the radio show, if illegal schools are 'lucrative business for all', Wilshaw responded by saying 'The simple answer to that is yes, people like to line their pockets'.
Now although Ofsted along with BBC have led investigations and unearthed a number of alternative-led educational provisions, I believe it wrong to label all of these 'illegal'. The word 'illegal' produces negative connotations of corruption, crime and callousness. Yes several unregistered Islamic schools in addition to Orthodox schools have been found, but using the word illegal to describe them creates further stigma and further alienation of communities.
If a parent decides to send their child/children to a religious school, they should have every right to do so. Why should the government have a say in how a responsible parent filters what curriculum their child follows? I know of many Islamic schools, who teach English, Maths, History and other mainstream subjects, on top of teaching Islamic theology and principles. How than can one argue such an educational establishment is committing a crime against English law?
Many parents have taken to home schooling, though figures on this are hard to gage, for obvious reasons. Now, this is sometimes employed as a tatic to support a child/children to engage with their studies or as a form of discipline. For the latter, I assume it is effective, in that the child/children get the one-to-one support often missing from mainstream schools as well as reduction in distraction from other disruptive students. My younger sister is 15 and studying for her GSCEs in an East London Girls's School, she has repeatedly confided me in how distracting the students in her GCSE Sociology school are. She told me she complained to her head of year, hoping that they would instill some discipline to the disruptive students out of goodwill. But no, my sister told me her head of year couldn't care less. Now, I felt very angry and upset, I want my sister to do well like I did. My sister is extremely smart and has very high ambitions. Would me saving up to get her home-schooled be such a crime? Would my parents sending her to an Islamic school, where students are more polite and well-mannered be a good idea? Maybe so.
Of course some alternative provisions to mainstream school are in it for the money. This is transparent in the so called 'charities' with un-qualified teaching staff, effortless lessons and poor results. These facilities need to be cracked down on and shut, not the well-meaning providers. Children NEED teachers, they need someone qualified and passionate about education and the economy of knowledge, to guide them through their studies, inspire them and invest in their academic growth.
Wilshaw said today on the Today programme, "I'm not against schools using alternative provision, as long as they take ownership of it." I can respect this statement, as long as the good charities, the excellent religious schools (who have a wide-ranged curriculum) are not demonised, at the expense of cheap and crafty alternatives.
Like me, you may have been ignorant to this, but by law, any establishment that takes on more than five children full time, or even just one with special needs, must alter the local authorities and get registered as a school. This is so Ofsted can monitor the teaching and other relevant features of a school for the protection and benefit of children.
Now although Ofsted along with BBC have led investigations and unearthed a number of alternative-led educational provisions, I believe it wrong to label all of these 'illegal'. The word 'illegal' produces negative connotations of corruption, crime and callousness. Yes several unregistered Islamic schools in addition to Orthodox schools have been found, but using the word illegal to describe them creates further stigma and further alienation of communities.
If a parent decides to send their child/children to a religious school, they should have every right to do so. Why should the government have a say in how a responsible parent filters what curriculum their child follows? I know of many Islamic schools, who teach English, Maths, History and other mainstream subjects, on top of teaching Islamic theology and principles. How than can one argue such an educational establishment is committing a crime against English law?
Many parents have taken to home schooling, though figures on this are hard to gage, for obvious reasons. Now, this is sometimes employed as a tatic to support a child/children to engage with their studies or as a form of discipline. For the latter, I assume it is effective, in that the child/children get the one-to-one support often missing from mainstream schools as well as reduction in distraction from other disruptive students. My younger sister is 15 and studying for her GSCEs in an East London Girls's School, she has repeatedly confided me in how distracting the students in her GCSE Sociology school are. She told me she complained to her head of year, hoping that they would instill some discipline to the disruptive students out of goodwill. But no, my sister told me her head of year couldn't care less. Now, I felt very angry and upset, I want my sister to do well like I did. My sister is extremely smart and has very high ambitions. Would me saving up to get her home-schooled be such a crime? Would my parents sending her to an Islamic school, where students are more polite and well-mannered be a good idea? Maybe so.
Of course some alternative provisions to mainstream school are in it for the money. This is transparent in the so called 'charities' with un-qualified teaching staff, effortless lessons and poor results. These facilities need to be cracked down on and shut, not the well-meaning providers. Children NEED teachers, they need someone qualified and passionate about education and the economy of knowledge, to guide them through their studies, inspire them and invest in their academic growth.
Wilshaw said today on the Today programme, "I'm not against schools using alternative provision, as long as they take ownership of it." I can respect this statement, as long as the good charities, the excellent religious schools (who have a wide-ranged curriculum) are not demonised, at the expense of cheap and crafty alternatives.
Like me, you may have been ignorant to this, but by law, any establishment that takes on more than five children full time, or even just one with special needs, must alter the local authorities and get registered as a school. This is so Ofsted can monitor the teaching and other relevant features of a school for the protection and benefit of children.