Redefining Full-time Education (Independent Schools) Some thoughts for the Consultation

The Department for Education and Skills are aiming to change the definition of "full time education". They intend that "schools" (providing less than 20 hours of teaching per week)which have no present obligation to register will be considered as major providers. Such "schools" will then be treated as though they are full-time and will be required to register.

This has significant implications for
* Parents wishing to educate their children otherwise than at school.
they will be restricted in how they can cooperate in groups of more than 5 children

* Local Authorities in any inquiries/inspections they make of "home educators".
They will need to retrain inspectors for instances of mixed provision (home/school)as previous criteria will be inadequate and challengeable in court

* Independent Schools who wish to ensure their "brand" is not devalued.
There will now be two different kinds of Independent school - those providing full-time education and those providing the major part (anything from 10.5 hours??)

It will also have unforseen implications. Can you think of any?
Below you will find the main proposals and the three questions of what we think is a wholly inadequate Consultation Paper which you can find on the DfES website click here. If you wish to respond online or on paper you have until 22nd February. You will find some questions we have appended to each of the three consultation questions. Our questions are in italics are are meant to be thoughtprovoking for those wanting to respond.

The Proposals
3.1
There is no statutory definition of ‘full time’ education in relation to independent or maintained schools, but the Guidance to Proprietors advises schools to follow the guidelines for maintained schools which are:
Age 5-7 21 hours per week minimum;Age 8-11 23.5 hours per week minimum;Age 12-16 24 hours per week minimum.
This advice has served the Department and independent schools well for many years. However, patterns of schooling are changing, and there is a greater diversity of approach to education, with some parents opting for home education which includes part time tuition at tutorial colleges or schools.
Parents must ensure that their child receives an education suitable to his/her age, needs and aptitudes, either at school or otherwise. In cases where this is achieved by a mix of part time attendance at school and part time education at home, this must be agreed with the school, with both parents and schools having a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities. Both should be able to describe and evidence the part each plays in contributing to a broad and balanced curriculum meeting the needs of the individual child.
Where a school provides most of the education, we believe that it should be treated as if it is providing ‘full time’ education, and required to register with the Department. We propose that any school providing more than 20 hours education per week should have to register. Schools providing fewer than 20 hours per week should also be registered where the education provided constitutes the major part of that child’s education. Where there is uncertainty as to whether a school is providing the major part of a child’s education, we propose to rely on Ofsted’s opinion.
We believe that these arrangements will remove any doubt as to what constitutes ‘full time’ education. They will ensure that any settings providing all, or a major part, of children’s education will be registered, and required to meet the minimum regulatory standards. This will ensure that children are taught effectively, in a safe and secure environment.




1 Do you agree that where a school provides more than 20 hours of education per week, it should be treated as providing full time education and should be required to register with the Department for Education and Skills?

Why shouldn’t 21 hours or more be the minimum?

Why should there be different overall figures for independent schools and maintained schools?

Are you really asking us to change the definition of independent schools?

Can you do this in guidance?

What if we said that only schools which provide more than 25 hours per week should be required to register?

Are you saying that there is a question as to whether schools offering more than 20 hours should register?

Why have you not given us a figure for the number of weeks in the year a school should operate?

What stops holiday classes providing 20 hours per week from being treated as schools ?

Aren’t parents fully responsible for the education of their children?

Why should the DfES concern itself about Independent Schools if parents are in the end responsible?

What is the point of a register of Independent schools?



2 Do you agree that where schools are providing fewer than 20 hours per week but the education provided constitutes the major part of that child's education, they should be required to register with the Department for Education and Skills?


Why should schools providing fewer than 20 hours a week have to register unless they want to?

What does “the major part” mean?

Who decides what is “the major part”?

Why are you not consulting on a definition of “the major part”?

How can you ask us to answer this question if you will not tell us what is “the major part”?

What do you mean “that child”?

Why should schools be allowed to register if they can only provide fewer than 20 hours per week?

Does homework count as part of the school’s provision?

Do breaktimes and assemblies count as part of the provision?

How can you say “the major part” without referring to a period of longer than a week?

Won’t holiday schools be caught by this Guidance?





3 Do you agree that where there is uncertainty as to whether a school is providing the major part of a child's education we should rely on Ofsted's opinions?

Why should there be uncertainty as to whether a school is providing the major part?

Why should you rely on Ofsted’s opinions?

Why should Ofsted be any clearer than you?

How will Ofsted make their adjudication?

What Guidance do Ofsted use to form this opinion?

Why haven’t we been asked to also define such Guidance as informs Ofsted in this matter?