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27 April 2026

Tag: illegal schools

MPs tell government to ‘shake up status quo’ on home education

MPs have slammed an “astonishing” lack of data on the number of children educated at home, and called for more powers for councils to check on their progress and welfare. School leaders backed calls for the government to introduce a national register of children educated at home, and to investigate a recent rise amid concerns […]

Illegal schools: Government accused of ‘unacceptable’ delays to crackdown

The government has been accused of “unacceptable” delays to its crackdown on illegal schools, as new figures show tip-offs to Ofsted now average 12 a month. The inspectorate wants ministers to act “swiftly” on promised reforms, while safeguarding chiefs and campaigners say agencies will still have inadequate powers to inspect and close sites. A Schools […]

Urgent action demanded on home education after deaths of ‘invisible’ children

The government must pay “urgent attention” to safeguarding for pupils educated at home, an expert has warned, amid a probe into the deaths of three children. The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel revealed it had been notified of 15 incidents of “serious harm” involving home-educated children over the past year in England. Three children died, […]

Break the rules and you’re out, minister tells academy bosses

The academies minister has declared there is “simply no place” in education for discredited academy bosses – and vowed to “take action” against those who flout the rules. Baroness Berridge’s threat comes after the education secretary barred a third school leader this month for breaking academy rules. Nardeep Sharma, the former chief executive of the […]

Alleged illegal school boss claims he was following DfE guidance

The director of a west London learning centre accused of running an illegal school has claimed he was following Department for Education guidance when he decided not to register his institution. Nacerdine Talbi, 47, the sole director of the Al-Istiqamah Learning Centre in Ealing, west London, told Westminster Magistrates court today that he believed he […]

Ofsted prepares to prosecute four illegal schools which refuse to close

Four illegal schools are refusing to comply with government enforcement notices to cease their operation immediately, forcing Ofsted to take legal action to shut them down, Schools Week can reveal. The education watchdog has issued 38 warning notices to illegal schools so far – resulting in 27 either closed down or reformed. Seven of the […]

DfE funds £1m for Ofsted illegal schools taskforce

The government has committed a further £1 million to fund Ofsted’s team that investigates illegal schools, despite the watchdog still failing to bring a single prosecution against an unregistered school. Initially funded for one year, the illegal schools team was created after former chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw last year warned that pupils in hidden […]