HomeSchooler.org.uk

Press Release Friday 18th September 2009

Report's Author Makes Urgent Request for Evidence to Back His Conclusions

Home educators today reacted in astonishment to news that DCSF had sent out a letter from Graham Badman, author of the contentious Report on the Review of Elective Home Education in England, appealing for assistance in finding more evidence to provide to the forthcoming select committee inquiry into the Review.

In a suprising admission, the covering letter from DCSF2 admits that the evidence on which the 28 recomendations were based was a "small sample" and that they needed to show "more statistically rigorous" information to the Inquiry.

Results from Freedom of Information requests made by home educators has shown that only 25 out of 152 local authorities responded to the earlier request. Ann Newstead, Spokesperson for Education Otherwise (EO) said “time is running out for Graham Badman since the Select Committee will be scrutinising the conduct of the review next month”. Despite acknowledging the poor basis for the Recommendations, the letter still asserts that the data that had been collected provided "persausive evidence for change".

Fiona Nicholson, Chair of EO's Government Policy Group said “Our position remains that the Badman Review was not given sufficient time to consider the issues and hence reached hasty and disproportionate conclusions. We welcome the scrutiny of the Select Committee"

Notes to Editors

1 Review of elective home education in England http://publications.everychildmatters.gov.uk/ default.aspx?PageFunction=productdetails&PageMode=publications&ProductId=HC+610&

2 Elective Home Education (EHE) review - request for supplementary data http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/news-and-communications/la-week...

3 See Education Otherwise page about the Review which includes a summary of the recommendations, frequently asked questions, useful links and more information about what EO has been doing - http://www.freedomforchildrentogrow.org/heconsult.htm

Education Otherwise is the oldest and largest organisation that provides support and information for families whose children are being educated outside school: http://www.education-otherwise.org

Contacts:

Ann Newstead, EO Trustee, Government Policy Group & Spokesperson 08445 868839, 07795 974397, media-spokesperson@educationotherwise.org

Fiona Nicholson, EO Trustee & Government Policy Group Chair 078477 92212 fnicholson@educationotherwise.org

Further information and interviews:

Annette Taberner, EO Trustee & Government Policy Group 0114 258 3502, annettektaberner@hotmail.com