Why we must act on unregistered schools
I WAS appalled to learn that the English education watchdog, Ofsted, has found evidence of unregistered and poorly performing registered private faith schools using textbooks preaching misogyny and homophobia, contrary to the laws of the land.
These polarising materials preach that domestic violence is perfectly acceptable, wives cannot withhold sex from their husbands, and also condones killing gay people. Ofsted chief inspector of schools Amanda Spielman embarrassingly admitted to the Public Accounts Committee that her department lacks appropriate powers to seize evidence, and as a consequence of this is “tackling the issue with one arm tied behind our back”.
It is a criminal offence to operate an unregistered school. In 2016, Ofsted launched a probe into unregistered schools masquerading as religious charities in London, and run by ultra-orthodox Jewish organisations; at least a dozen illegal Charedi schools were operating in the area. In the same year, several private Christian schools were rated inadequate after they had been caught teaching their pupils that evolution is a lie, abortion is immoral, and non-Biblically sanctioned relations cause HIV infection, on the basis of a US curriculum called Accelerated Christian Education. Earlier this year, an ACE school in London was rated inadequate as it failed to teach pupils to “properly develop the skills to collect and evaluate scientific evidence”.
If this is happening in England, how can we guarantee the same isn’t occurring right under our noses on this side of the Severn Bridge? How many children in Wales are being deprived of a decent education that prepares them for adulthood, as is their right?
What is being done by Welsh Government now to ensure unregistered schools are being shut down, and to check that registered private schools don’t pursue a divisive curriculum in breach of equality legislation? This isn’t solely an issue of education; every child and young person needs and deserves to be able to learn in a safe, inclusive and nurturing environment in order to thrive. Daniel Pitt Mountain Ash