HomeSchooler.org.uk

"The schools secretary Ed Balls was today accused of wasting more than £1bn on red tape for parents and teachers – a month after he told schools to turn off lights to save money.

An education bill, which will have its second reading in the Commons today, would cost the public £1.1bn over a decade if it becomes law, government statistics compiled by the Liberal Democrats show.

The Children, Schools and Families bill has been heavily criticised by parents, professors and teachers who dismiss much of it as "bureaucratic" and "pointless".

The National Union of Teachers warned that one of the bill's clauses, which forces teachers to hold a licence to practise, would be an "entirely unnecessary, pointless hurdle". The government's figures show this measure alone would cost the public £94m over a decade – over £9m each year.

Another clause, which compels every parent who home educates their child to register with their local authority, would cost £191m over ten years – over £19m each year. It would give local authorities the power to refuse parents the right to educate their children at home.

More than 900 parents, scholars and teachers have written a letter, published in the Guardian today, condemning the register as a bureaucratic intrusion by the state into their children's education."...