Does the government agree that parents have the primary responsibility for the upbringing and development of their child?

Petition to:

uphold that parents have the primary responsibility for the upbringing and development of their child

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to uphold that parents have the primary responsibility for the upbringing and development of their child, to not undermine parents legitimately fulfilling their fundamental duties, and to assume that the best interests of their child is the basic concern of parents unless there is specific evidence to the contrary More details

Are the government trying to hide their response to this petition from most parents by implying that it only applies to home educators.

"Government response

Parents have the primary duty to ensure that their child receives a suitable education and home education is a well established alternative to school which allows them to fulfil that duty.  Where a parent opts to educate their child at home rather than at school, they must provide their child with an education that is suitable to the child’s age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs they may have. 

Guidelines which set out the legislative position and the roles and responsibilities of local authorities and parents in relation to home educated children is available at - http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/publications/elective/.

The Government respects the right of parents to home educate their children and we appreciate the strong views held by both home educators and local authorities.   As you will appreciate, we have not yet been able to consider in detail our approach to home education and whether or not any changes to the existing arrangements are required."

Let's hope when they do consider the detail of their approach to home education it will have regard to the   Equalities Act and bear in mind that we are a minority group who are doing nothing illegal.  In fact they would do well to consider their own legal duties toward the children in their care in their schools and institutions.

And they would do well to drop the language of Ballsian Delusion such as "The Government respects the right of parents to home educate their children " as we are well aware that the government who coined this trite phrase did nothing of the sort!


Update, I have been informed that the elective home education bit was added by the previous government and so my suspicions as to the reason are most likely accurate, but less worrying.