0370 270 6000

Search

Search Mobile

collapse

already registered?

Please sign in with your existing account details.

Email address

Password

Sign in with LinkedIn

need to register?

Register to access exclusive content, sign up to receive our updates and personalise your experience on brownejacobson.com.

Privacy statement - Terms and conditions

Register with LinkedIn

Forgotten your password?

collapseSign

Browne Jacobson home

Education home

Insights

Blogs

Are the new ISA rules 'disproportionate to risk'?

are the new ISA rules 'disproportionate to risk'?

11 December 2009

Seven main representative organisations for schools and college leaders have written to Ed Balls requesting changes to the vetting and barring scheme stating the new rules are 'bureaucratic and will not guarantee safety'. This is not the first time government has been criticised over the scheme, leading to it considering the complaints in a recent review.

The signatories claim that the requirement for volunteers to register with the ISA mean there will be a reduction in the support from parents and student helpers in schools, help that Head, Julie Robinson, vice-chairman of the Independent Association of Prep Schools, says is genuinely needed.

With the review out imminently it will be interesting to see how the DCSF and the ISA reacts having been on the receiving end of such broad and public criticism. There is no doubt the system needed an over-haul but has the pendulum swung too far and now risks deterring genuine volunteers?

related opinions

School uniform under media spotlight

The new academic year has started with controversy over school uniform. Last week, a government inquiry heard evidence that costs for parents are being exacerbated by compulsory branded uniform, including clothing with school logos, and operating contractual arrangements for the supply of these items with single retailers.

Education Secretary confirms DfE 'backing' for exclusions

Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, has confirmed that head teachers who take “the decision to either suspend or expel a pupil because they need to do it in order to be able to enforce proper and full discipline in their school, and making sure that they're protecting the whole interests of the school, will always have my backing".

Welcome news for sixth form colleges looking to academise

The Government has accepted calls from sixth form colleges to reopen the option to become academies.

RSE guidance issued - but do teachers feel ready?

In our previous blog we updated you on the new requirements to teach relationships, health and sex education (elements of which are phase specific) which will become mandatory in September 2020.

View all blogs

Mark Blois

Partner and Head of Education

mailing list sign up

Select which mailings you would like to receive from us.

Sign up