Over 100 suspected illegal schools uncovered in Britain

More than 100 suspected unregistered schools across Britain have been identified, a chief inspector of schools said Monday, rising concerns about children's safety.

Michael Wilshaw, chief inspector of education, children's services and skills, said on Monday that through five-month investigation, his team found more than 100 suspected unregistered schools in this country, adding there are many more children hidden away from the view of the authorities in unregistered school across the country.

A letter he wrote to British Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said inspectors has issued seven warning notices to those suspected illegal schools operating in London, Birmingham, Luton, Wolverhampton and Stoke-on-Trent, and they have interviewed a number of individuals under caution in relation to suspected offences.

He said around 350 children or young people were found to be on the premises, where exist serious fire hazards, unsafe and unhygienic problems, and staff and volunteers who have not been properly checked or cleared to work with children.

"What we have found so far is likely to represent only a small proportion of the illegal schools operating across the country. Inspectors are hearing about suspected new cases every week," he said.

"I therefore remain extremely concerned about the number of children and young people attending these schools who may be at significant risk of harm and indoctrination," he added.

He also believed that there is a clear link between the growth of unregistered schools and the steep rise in number of children recorded as being home educated in England over the past few years, saying that many of those unregistered schools are unscrupulously using the freedoms that parents have to home educate their children as a cover for their activities.

Substandard education in many of those unregistered schools has placed children at risk of harm, including exposing them to extremism and radicalization.

"Nothing is more important than keeping children safe, and councils have clear powers to take action where there are concerns regarding a child's wellbeing," a spokesperson of the Department for Education said.

The spokesperson said they have given new resources to the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills to investigate unregistered schools and to prepare case files for prosecution by local prosecuting agency. Endit