Home schooling and violence against women to be discussed by councillors

CONCERNS surrounding home schooling have resulted in one of the four motions going in front of Middlesbrough councillors next week.

- By DANIEL HODGSON

The full meeting of the council will be held on Wednesday, September 10, and as part of proceedings, councillors will discuss and vote upon four different motions, brought forward by three councillors.

One of these motions calls on the council to write to the government, requesting an “urgent review” of home schooling, highlighting child protection procedures and the need for children to receive a minimum level of education, comparable with the level at an Ofsted inspected school.

The motion comes after an independent councillor found it “unbelievable” that parents do not need any qualifications to electively home educate their children.

The other three motions call on the council to urgently address the “epidemic” of violence against women and girls (VAWG), clamp down on abuse and intimidation of councillors and finally, commission a sports honours board, for successful athletes who were born in Middlesbrough.

Labour Councillor Philippa Storey proposed two of the motions, firstly calling on local council leaders to “turn the tide” on violence against women and girls.