Category Archives: THE DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION
Written Submissions Published ahead of March 4th Evidence Session
The Education Committee has published its ‘Evidence Check‘ written submissions on school starting age and summer born children, which were received by the February 23, 2015 deadline. They can be read here and include: Written evidence submitted by the Summer Born Campaign Group
New Research Suggests DfE’s Policy of Summer Born Children Missing Year of School is an ‘Unnatural’ Social Experiment
‘Today’s BBC News, “Delayed school entry linked with poorer results“, which reports on new research titled, ‘Delayed school entry and academic performance: a natural experiment’, not only demonstrates the fundamental problem with using the word “delay” to describe summer born children starting school AT compulsory school age, but … Continue reading
2015 DfE Statistical Information Has WRONG Summer Born Classification
It’s not a particularly ‘new’ phenomenon – many education documents published by successive governments have either ‘forgotten‘ summer born children or defined them incorrectly. But just one month after the DfE published its new School Admissions Code and Summer Born … Continue reading
DfE reports EYFSP Attainment Gap Between Summer and Autumn Born Children
The Department for Education has published its Early years foundation stage profile (EYFSP) attainment by pupil characteristics in England for the academic year 2013 to 2014. No real summer born surprises given that these children’s level of development was measured while … Continue reading
DfE’s New Code will Exacerbate Gap Between Rich and Poor
The new 2014 draft School Admissions Code remains unclear, unfair and subjective for the admission and continued education of summer born children. But it’s even worse for summer born children from poor or socially disadvantaged backgrounds, and for children from homes with English as … Continue reading
Commissioner promises to “relentlessly champion the interests and rights of children”
Last Tuesday, the pre-appointment hearing for the next Children’s Commissioner in England took place, with Anne Longfield OBE, Chief Executive, 4Children, answering questions posed by the Chair of the Education Select Committee. The issue of summer born children was mentioned briefly … Continue reading
Key Priority for new Children’s Commissioner – Have Your Say Today
Up until midday today (Monday 10 November) you can send your views on what the 2015 Children’s Commissioner’s key priority should be via Twitter, using the hashtag #OCCintray. With the term of office of the current Children’s Commissioner coming to an end early next year, … Continue reading
DfE U-Turn on Summer Born Admissions
In October 2013, in correspondence to a parent, the Department for Education wrote, “It is the government’s view that there should not need to be any exceptional reasons for a summer born child to be admitted to the reception class rather … Continue reading
DfE warns: Schools can legally sort children by any age THEY choose
A rather interesting update appeared in a DfE document in May (see actual document for date), ensuring everyone understands a child’s rights – or rather lack of them – in a very pertinent area of the Equality Act, given the summer born … Continue reading
Govt says NO to 1 WEEK off school – but YES to missing 1 WHOLE YEAR
Children Must Not Take a Week‘s Holiday (unless there are ‘exceptional circumstances‘) but Schools and Councils Can Take a Year of a Child’s Education (and any year will do). This tragic irony has not escaped parents of summer born children whose much-wanted … Continue reading
Campaigners apprise solicitors of changes to the DfE summer born advice
On May 9, I wrote about an update to the DfE’s July 2013 advice, and the fact that the DfE no longer wants parents to contact the Education Secretary when local school complaints processes have been exhausted. This was the key change, but because the … Continue reading
DfE updates Summer Born advice – to reduce parents’ contact with Gove
This week (May 7) the Department for Education updated its July 2013 advice, “Admission of summer-born children in schools“, but if parents who are struggling to gain access to a full primary education for their summer born children had expected changes that might … Continue reading
Inconsistency of the DfE’s position continues
On March 24 2014, in a response to a Parliamentary question posed by MP Annette Brooke on the problems faced by parents of summer born children requesting Reception class entry at compulsory school age, David Laws, the Minister of State for … Continue reading
Statutory school age is 5, but calls continue for children to start at age 2
When growing numbers of parents are fighting for the right to ensure that their 4 year-old children have full access to a full primary school education when they reach compulsory school age (i.e. the term following their 5th birthday), instead of being forced … Continue reading
DfE Mumsnet Mystery
On January 24, 2014 the Department for Education wrote on their Facebook page: “We’re often asked what the policy is on summer-born children starting school. Here’s a useful article on Mumsnet where we set out our views.” It posted a link to … Continue reading
Report Authors’ Response to the DfE’s press statement
Report Authors’ Response to the DfE: 1. “We have changed the School Admissions Code so that it is more flexible for parents of summer-born children, making it easier for them to defer their child’s entry.” This comment is not relevant to the issue … Continue reading
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
On November 21, 2013 in response to the UK’s call for views ahead of its next (fifth) periodic report to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), journalist Pauline Hull submitted the following suggested ‘additional example / supplementary evidence for … Continue reading
Admissions Conference in London today
An Admissions Conference delivered by Capita takes place today and tomorrow in London, and aims to address and update on the progress made so far following the implementation of the 2012 School Admissions Code, and to help local authorities and schools understand the importance … Continue reading
DfE says empowered parents should be primary decision-makers
During today’s Common’s Debate (held in Westminster Hall at 4pm), Elizabeth Truss, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education, answered some of MP Annette Brooke’s concerns regarding the current problems being faced by the parents of some summer born children. … Continue reading
Important debate in Westminster today
Earlier today, Annette Brooke, the MP for Mid-Dorset and North Poole, opened a Westminster Hall debate calling for a fairer school starting age for Summer-born pupils. The full Hansard transcript of the debate can be read here, and you can also view film … Continue reading
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