Memorandum submitted by Pema Sinclair
(age 13) on behalf of Summerhill School
Index to letter:
1. Despite covering areas relevant to children's
rights the UNCRC is not referenced.
2. Emphasis by David Bell on individuality,
the foundation of the UNCRC.
3. Principles of inspections.
4. Principles meaningless without UNCRC.
5. Select Committee and Ofsted should use
UNCRC as main foundation.
6. Where is the voice of the child in the
report and in schools?
7. UNCRC should be adopted as principal
for Ofsted.
8. "Every Child Matters" and concern
over Ofsted having to monitor UNCRC.
9. I will be attending select committee
meeting.
1. Even though Ofsted's annual report covers
the following topics, "moral and social development",
"spiritual development", "cultural development",
"citizenship" in paragraphs 142-144, we think that it
is necessary to use the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
(UNCRC) as a framework in the report. How can these areas have
any meaning without referencing children's rights?
2. We are very pleased to read that David
Bell states individuality is important and children should be
"treated as individuals", as he writes in his introduction
about Tim and Jenna. The individuality of the child is the foundation
of the UNCRC.
3. The Report states, "All of our inspections
are conducted according to a set of principles." "Inspection
is underpinned by a conviction that all children and young people
are entitled to a high-quality, rich and enjoyable education that
meets their individual needs."
4. We understand that these are important
principles, but we think they are meaningless if Ofsted is not
ensuring schools are implementing the rights of the child.
5. The Select Committee should use the UN
Convention on the Rights of the Child as the main foundation of
their scrutiny of Ofsted and education in England. They should
ensure that all children have their say and have equal rights.
Ofsted should review how the child develops as an individual by
exercising their rights, and how schools are implementing those
rights.
6. Where is the voice of the child in the
Report, except as an anecdote about two children, who were lucky
enough to speak to the Chief Inspector of Schools? Two years ago
Ofsted said it planned to listen to the views of children (referred
to in paragraph 488). In Summerhill we have uniquely had that
right since Spring 2000. Not only are children without a voice
in the report but Ofsted does not ensure, through their inspections,
schools give their pupils a say in their learning or community.
7. We urge Ofsted to add the UNCRC to its
principles and to include it in all of its inspections and reports.
8. In "Every Child Matters" Ofsted
maybe in the future inspecting most of the state's provisions
for children. If they are given that responsibility, how will
they use the rights of the child in their work if they have been
unwilling so far to even mention the UNCRC in their inspection
of schools?
9. I will be attending the committee to
hear how David Bell, HMCI, will be implementing the UNCRC.
February 2004
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