Unregistered schools

[Widdsters]

Just seen a BBC report on unregistered schools.

There was the usual blah about the DfE not doing enough to close them down etc.

But I felt like they're completely missing the point.

Surely the main issue is who the fuck is sending their children to them? And WHY?

There was evidence of disgusting food conditions, minging disrepair, damp, cramped rooms manhandling of children; operating out of office blocks and rooms above shops.
Who TF, when they're looking for a school for their child, tours the local schools... and then chooses the one in a bloody room above a shop!?

Surely the fact that a school is unregistered brings up all the usual concerns of no safeguarding procedures, unregulated teachers, no qualification requirements, no health and safety regulation. Etc etc.
Why would ANYBODY choose that as a place to school their child!? Every day!

Regardless of the DfE working against these schools, why TAF is there any demand for them?

The ones they showed seemed to be religious schools, so I'm guessing it's parents who want their children to receive religious education, rather than education dictated by Ofsted.

So much so that they'll overlook the squalor, abuse and social isolation?
I'm religious myself and can't for a second see how instilling a doctrine is more important than ensuring your child's basic health and safety.

The food prep areas were brown!

I agree with you on the dirt....the parents more than likely don't know about the abuse....missed the bit on social isolation sorry?

Because some migrants choose not to assimilate into British society and wish to retain their own cultural traditions.

I think they are usually in closed off communities who don’t want their children mixing with the outside world and the community probably encourage parents to use them, possibly the parents went to similar schools and don’t know what a normal school is like.

Not all of them will be squalid and abusive - some will be fairly reasonable as long as you think that 8 hours daily study of religious texts in their original language is more important than the ability to do algebra or write decent English.

I do think that those bona fide home educators who resist any hint of regulation or registration (that’s not all HEers I know) are somewhat culpable for their willingness to throw children in these establishments under the bus. But the D of E and local authorities are very much to blame as well.

The Prevent strategy so lauded by the government doesn't reach these schools. In the report alone we can see how pupils are being brainwashed. It's scary. We aren't getting to these children. They are being raised in a completely isolated environment.

the parents more than likely don't know about the abuse

But they know it's a far greater risk when a school is unregistered, surely?
And not a risk worth taking?

Its not like they advertise as an unregistered squalid school. They are secretive religious or immigrant schools. Its not as simple as just shut them down. They have to prove they are a 'school' rather than just Bible study, or Koran Study groups. And the parents using them are hardly likely to complain.

It's not like they advertise as an unregistered squalid school

When you're operating out of an office block you hardly need to advertise the fact much more, do you.

And yes, not complaining I understand. But what I don't understand is using them in the first place when conditions and standards are so obviously appalling.

The same religious cretins who abuse their children at birth with genital mutilation.

But what I don't understand is using them in the first place when conditions and standards are so obviously appalling. But that's religion for you, it is more important than anything. And sad to say I dont imagine the mothers know anything about the conditions inside.

I know of an unregistered school that says it only educated children over 16 full time but I strongly suspect has under 16’s & indeed I know of someone who was put under pressure to send her son to them.

It provides an elite kind of training. Pastoral care is shocking & no-one regulates it.

My understanding is that the parents don't always have a choice. They were born into something resembling a cult. Brought up to expect arranged marriage. Don't know about contraception. If they do later see what's going on then there are massive difficulties in leaving. And if their spouse isn't keen will end up in custody battle with the one who wants to stay fighting for custody.

I know someone who left and went to court to get his son out of one of these schools but his ex wife won and kid still at the awful school (it was registered but not much better than the registered schools).

I looked round a perfectly legitimate OFSTED registered new free school which was operating out of some random rooms in a office block while waiting to get permanent accommodation. I’ve also been to properly registered “family schools” in very odd locations so I can understand why people who aren’t clued up about the UK education system might not understand the difference between a legitimate “independent school” and a dodgy one.

But it's not just religion, is it. Because if it were, all faith school would be unregistered.

It's possible to send your child to a registered school of any faith in the UK. So why you'd choose to send your child to an unregistered one is the part I just don't understand.

Who is funding the schools, checking the teachers are you know teachers? Who is making sure regulations and the safety of the children is being met? How is this not been picked up surely these children must be registered as home ed as other wise what school are they registered at as thes places on the news said they teach only few hours a day?

But it's not just religion, is it. Because if it were, all faith school would be unregistered
It pretty much is just religion. Lots of faith schools are happy to follow the rules and have no problem being registered. The unregistered ones dont want to follow the rules usually because they want indoctrinate/radicalise children in a way that would be unacceptable and precludes registration.

Oh Tainbri off we go. Like most circumcised Jewish boys I went to ordinary schools. I am not saying these unregistered schools are not a problem - they are - but please don’t go off at the usual tangent.

THe school I know of isn’t a religious school. However the people running it are from a different culture.

I don't think it necessarily follows that an unregistered school means the children in it are more likely to be abused op.

Maybe all contributors should watch the news report; there was definite evidence of squalor and abuse. Unregistered school; no safeguarding etc as they are off the radar.

What is the legal situation for the children in the unregistered schools? Are registered as home educated, which does have a small amount of oversight. Or are they mostly kept 'off-grid' so there is no oversight at all?

I saw it and was stunned to see a little child being slapped about the head! wtf! I mean, sorry, but this school should have had law enforcement sent in. And the other school, teaching kids that women who wear perfume are adulteresses, and gay people should be killed. Surely a hate crime. I want to campaign against the DoE's complete lack of action despite Ofsted reports.

Why are these schools even legal? That is the question we should be asking.