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Submitted by saralexis on Thu, 11/06/2009 - 3:00pm
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If you've just been alerted to this report and all its implications then the sheer volume of debate and information is pretty daunting. Very basically:   The Badman Report into Home Education was published on the 11th June 2009.  It was commissioned amid wild allegations of a link between home-education and child abuse, so a balanced and fair report was never expected. The report itself makes alarming reading, and has been accepted in full by the Government.   Amongst its recommendations are some which are deeply worrying for anyone who cares about our right to family life, civil liberties or our children's best interests.

  • The right to inspect the premises of education... which we fear may mean the right of entry into our homes without suspicion of wrong-doing
  • The right to interview our children without adult support - again without suspicion of abuse or risk to them
  • Compulsory registration for all home-educators, which can be withdrawn, and therefore is more like a license/permission.  A very broad range of reasons for the issuing of 'SAO's or School Attendance Orders is given.  It is feared that these powers will translate into a loss of the parent's right to dictate the form of education their children receive.
  • Slurs against autonomous education, a well-established and recognised educational philosophy, which is described as 'little better than child-minding'.
  • Requirement for a 12 month plan, against which 'progress' will be measured (this is anathema to autonomous educators since they follow the child's interests and cannot predict in advance what those might be).  Even for structured home-educators this sets a standard higher than state-schools are held to - children who do not progress are not forced out of school into home education!
  • Further allegations of a high incidence of child-abuse in home-educating families, without any evidence.  To date NO examples of 'hidden' (not known by Social Services to be at risk) abused home educated children have been given.  All the recent, tragic, high-profile cases have concerned children who were well-known to be at risk, the authorities had adequate powers to protect these children under current law.
These issues affect ALL parents, not just home-educators.  If these recommendations become law then the state effectively becomes the first choice guardian of our children, when they should be the last resort.
Logically there is no distinction between assuming that children are unsafe with their parents in school-hours, and assuming they are unsafe during holidays, at night or before they reach compulsory school age.
Parents should not have to prove that they are not abusers.

To get an overview of the issues I would suggest you start with some of these blogs:

For a fantastic in-depth analysis of the overwhelming problems with this report:

For a great roundup of the recent developments around the Select Committee look to 'Grits Day' and Regegade Parent.

We are a diverse group, but we have a common aim - the defence of our families' civil liberties and, more importantly, our children's best interests. I try my best to keep up with most of the discussion which goes on, and to present all the views I can... add your views/blogs/ideas if they are not yet represented.

Equally, I want to emphasise that almost none of the writing here is my own. I want to fully credit the writers who have generously given their time and thoughts... however I'm running to keep up and I wouldn't be surprised if I made mistakes - please let me know if I have misattributed anything.