Wycombe MP Paul Goodman has presented a petition criticising the Badman report on the home education of children to the House of Commons on behalf of five constituents.

 

The petition, which was one of a several presented by MPs from various constituencies, highlighted concerns about the report’s recommendations as well as the way in which the review was carried out. The petition went on to urge the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families to withdraw proposals for tighter monitoring of home educated children in the absence of a thorough independent inquiry.

 

The Government commissioned a report on home education by the former director of children’s services in Kent, Graham Badman, in January 2009. His report was published in June 2009 and included recommendations that all children being taught at home should be registered with their local authority and their educational progress monitored with home visits.

 

The Government accepted the recommendations of the report and is implementing them through the Children, Schools and Families Bill which is currently going through Parliament. 

 

According to a recent report by the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee, there are between 45,000 and 150,000 home educated children in England.