AIBU to feel deeply uneasy?

[sambly]

The received message from school today demanding we fill out form giving our childrens country of birth and nationality. Message says it's for school records. It was sent to all children. Also that this form must be returned tomorrow with no further explanation or room to question. In the current climate without explanation, it's a bit concerning. Why the rush? We are going to ask for further explanation before filling anything out.

[mumtomaxwell]

It's just the school census! Happens every year. Not sure why this is the year that quite a lot of people have been worried about it???

[mumtomaxwell]

Oh, and I'm fairly sure this week is the deadline - it usually falls in mid January. That explains the rush!

[Magzmarsh]

I don't understand all the sudden scaremongering posts about this either (and there's been loads of them recently).

I've been filling in these forms for my dc for almost 20 years.

[Empress13]

Why are you worried ? It happens all the time. .

[WorraLiberty]

Why do you feel deeply uneasy OP?

[Temporaryanonymity]

I've never seen one. I have had children in three schools now. Suspect my sons have made paper aeroplanes with all school letters.

[Reality16]

I have also read a couple of threads about this recently. I didn't realise it was a thing. Caring about it I mean. Why do people find it odd? It's pretty standard on many forms we have been filling for YEARS.

[KathArtic]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2825256-To-not-want-to-provide-my-DC-nationality-and-country-of-birth-to-school

[NerrSnerr]

Why uneasy? What do you think they'll do with the information?

[PurpleMinionMummy]

Ours consisted of an email asking us to let them know if dc's were born elsewhere or whatever. Mine weren't, but I raised an eyebrow! I definitely don't remember being asked before, not just this as a stand alone question anyway

[PhilODox]

DfE have added these items to the census this time. School have a statutory requirement to submit census. It's a condition of their funding.

[SoupDragon]

I've been filling in these forms for my dc for almost 20 years.

And I've never seen one in 13 years of having school age children. Odd!

Not that I care anyway.

[NicknameUsed]

Isn't there an identical thread about this already running?

[Lynnm63]

I'm sure I've filled these in both at primary and secondary schools. TBH I've never given it a thought just filled them in.

[IvorHughJarrs]

I think it has been done for many years and is about keeping records that allow school funding to be targeted better, e.g. schools that have a higher proportion of children with other languages and cultures

[TattyCat]

So what happens if you don't fill it in? Does it spontaneously combust?

[Mollyringworm]

Because Nigel Farage and the brexit lot are going to round up all the non British kids and deport them immediately that's why

Honestly what's the big deal?

[fallenempires]

I'm sure that I have done similar too in the past,but the latest one was odd considering that all the dcs records are logged anyway via Birth & Records as British born citizens & school already had these details.

[zukiecat]

My eldest daughter is 25 and left school 7 years ago and I was filling in forms with that information since she started at nursery aged 4

In Scotland if that makes any difference

[WhiteCaribou]

Hi I'm new here, been lurking a couple of days but thought I'd butt in because it's something I know a bit about.

I work in school admin and, coincidentally, we had an email today on this very subject from Liberty, the human rights organisation. This is a new requirement for the school census, a lot of people find this question deeply worrying, especially as there were reports of the Government planning to "de prioritise" school places for illegal immigrant children. If you do not wish to give this information, it is not a legal requirement. "Refused" is an acceptable response on the census form, whatever the school may tell you.
See this link for more info www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/news/press-releases-and-statements/liberty-responds-theresa-mays-planned-deprioritisation-school

[spencerreidswife]

We had to fill them in too. First time in 6 years of having kids in school

[NotCitrus]

There's no need for them to know place of birth. Nationality I can see could be relevant. Normally I'm all about the geeky data collection, but last year I refused the form. Fortunately the staff were of similar mind (school is hugely diverse, about 10% refugees/similar, most kids speak another language) and emailed out telling people how to fill in the form without supplying info.

[JunosRevenge]

You don't have to submit that info, OP.