HomeSchooler.org.uk

Dear Mrs Bodycote

Thank you for your e-mail of 15th June and I absolutely agree with your position that "the Government casts aside another liberty" to use Mark Field's comments. It seems to me that home education can be just as good if not better than education in a school.

I understand that the findings of the Badman Report have been accepted by the Government. There appears to have been very little public debate about this and I share your concerns. Therefore, on your behalf, I have written to the Government to express your unhappiness.

I have also written to the Conservative Shadow Secretary of State for Education to ask whether the Conservative Party have a fixed position on this. You will understand that, not being in Government, we do not have a view on everything, but I suspect and hope that we will take a view on this that we should not interfere in reasonable arrangements made by individual parents to educate their children at home.

I was very interested in your e-mail and, candidly, I agree with almost everything that you have said. I would have thought that this Government should concentrate on getting our schools up to a better standard so that all children can enjoy a decent education in our schools, rather than trying to control and dictate to parents who believe that they can give their children a better education at home.

with best wishes,

yours sincerely,

Andrew Robathan