Schools Demand Pupils' Passports
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Rio’s golden headteachers’ Mary bousted: girls (and Boys) alternative to this year’s grammar plans tuc president Page 8 Centre page pull-out Page 12 SCHOOLSWEEK.CO.UK FRIDAY, SEP 23, 2016 | EDITION 77 WHY THE SECRECY ABOUT ACADEMY CASH? Page 2 Schools demand pupils’ passports New rules on collection of nationality data misunderstood Parents asked if their child is a refugee or asylum seeker P3 FREDDIE WHITTAKER AND BILLY CAMDEN this month to include pupils’ nationalities and @SCHOOLSWEEK countries of birth. Exclusive The government insisted the change was driven SPOT THE Schools are demanding copies of pupils’ passports by a “dearth of information” about how effective and asking parents to confirm if their children the education sector was for foreign nationals. Its CONNECTION are asylum seekers or refugees amid confusion guidance states that schools should seek birthplace over a new legal duty requiring the collection of data from parents, although it is not compulsory BREXIT AND A NEW nationality data. for parents to provide it. Schools Week revealed in June that the However, an investigation by Schools Week SCHOOLS CAMPAIGN Department for Education (DfE) had expanded suggests that schools have misinterpreted the the census details schools must collect from new rules, including Continues on page 2 PA/IMAGES SSAT NATIONAL 1-2 DECEMBER CONFERENCE 2016 BIRMINGHAM Media partner ssatuk.co.uk/nc16 2 @SCHOOLSWEEK SCHOOLS WEEK FRIDAY, SEP 23, 2016 EDITION 77 NEWS St Richard’s Church of England first Children who were not white British school in Evesham, Worcestershire, also SCHOOLS WEEK TEAM wrote to parents this week requesting Editor: Laura McInerney told to send in birthplace data pupils’ passport numbers. “They can’t opt out of asking the question; Malcolm Trobe, interim general secretary Features editor: Cath Murray FREDDIE WHITTAKER AND BILLY CAMDEN they have to put the form out with the right of the Association of School and College @SCHOOLSWEEK CONTINUED FROM FRONT Head designer: Nicky Phillips questions, but they are not entitled to ask Leaders, said schools should “sensitively” Designer: Matthew Willsone asking for pupils’ passport numbers and for passport numbers.” ask parents for the information and for parents to confirm their child is not an Schools Week found De Beauvoir primary explain why it was being collected, but Sub editor: Jill Craven asylum seeker. school, in Hackney, east London, has issued should not request documents. Schools Chief reporter: John Dickens It comes during a time of heightened a form to parents that appears to require that had done so should “simply make a deportation concerns in some staff to check details provided against very brief apology” and explain they had Political reporter: Freddie Whittaker communities. Earlier this month protesters passports and birth certificates, and asks misunderstood the guidance. Reporter: Billy Camden demonstrated outside the Jamaican high guardians to specify whether or not their “There are some very legitimate reasons Reporter: Jess Staufenberg commission after more than 50 people – child is a refugee or asylum seeker. behind the collection of this data,” said many who had lived in the UK all their lives At Garth Hill college in Bracknell, Trobe, who claimed it would help schools Junior reporter: Sam King – were deported. Berkshire, parents received different and the government understand the impact Photographer: Ellis O’Brien The confusion could increase fears emails depending on their child’s of language GCSEs on foreign nationals. among ethnic minority families about how recorded ethnicity. Those with “We have been completely assured Cartoonist: Stan Dupp the data might be used, although education children recorded as being white that none of this is being passed to Financials: Helen Neilly leaders say they have received assurances it British were told the school was the Home Office.” will not be passed to the Home Office. assuming they were British and The Department for Education Victoria Boyle Diane Leedham (pictured), a specialist born in the UK, and they should has now reconfirmed its guidance. Sales manager: Vikrant Bassi English as an additional language (EAL) only respond if that assumption A spokesperson said: “The guidance Sales executive: Wallace Williams teacher, said she was worried about the was incorrect, while those is clear – there is no requirement for “range of interpretation” schools were with a different recorded schools to request a child’s passport Administration: Frances Ogefere Dell placing on the government’s “contentious ethnicity were told to or birth certificate”. He insisted but clear” instructions. Schools should send in birthplace the nationality and country of Contributors: James Kewin “make it clear that parents can opt-out if data as a matter of birth data “should be as stated Alex Sutherland they wish. urgency. by the parent or guardian”. Amy Finch Jill Berry Bright Tribe finance review still under wraps Nigel Gann JOHN DICKENS Colin Richards @JOHNDICKENSSW Pressure is now mounting on party transactions were raised with the Exclusive the government to explain why it is government The education secretary has been accused withholding details of the report – with by Will Quince, Conservative MP for Managing director: Shane Mann of “hiding” a financial investigation into critics questioning why similar finance Colchester, after an investigation by The And tweet us your thoughts @schoolsweek or a controversial academy trust run by the reviews into other academy trusts have Observer newspaper in June. with the hashtag #schoolsweek government’s former free schools director. been published. 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