Flexischooling – advice for Ed Balls

CPE/PEN (as Education Now) have been  advocating that Flexischooling is a good idea since at least 1988 (see Flexischooling. Education for tomorrow, starting yesterday by Dr Roland Meighan 1988 ISBN 1 871526000)

An article in the Guardian by Helen McNulty The Guardian, Tuesday 23 June ‘Aged Five and on flexi-time’ echoes this.

Helen McNulty writes that a ‘New regulation for home educators could mean a rush to take up part-time schooling….'(Read the whole article http://tiny.cc/muvOi)

Indeed this looks like a possibility and if the education is truly negotiated by school and parents then it can work well. However, if this is a one-sided affair home-based educators may be forced to accept a model of education they’ve actively being trying to avoid.

Flexischooling has the potential to be a two-way process of learning. Schools should not be under the illusion that they hold the upper hand here or that they are in possession of the expertise. Those who take care to view the evidence on home-based education know what good news there is. (for starters see EO Campaign news: Roland Meighan Response to Review Report – a June 23rd posting below)

Perhaps Ed Balls could to begin encouraging schools to think about Flexischooling more clearly and to know it’s on the agenda. His first step should be to remove the veto of Headteachers and Governors on accepting such arrangements.