Some Confusion

On Wednesday evening I went to a briefing session for school governors about recent changes to the education system we should all be aware of. The Government has rejigged the National Curriculum, OfStEd guidelines and advice for governors, and the main theme is that we have to avoid children becoming Islamic fundamentalists. This might not seem like a huge problem in Surrey, but, the chap leading the session warned us, 'If your school doesn't have a policy defining how it understands "British Values" and how it promotes them, I strongly suggest you work one out'.

I was more interested, immediately, in the advice on safeguarding. Mr Consultant was adamant that the legislation stated that employees in schools only needed DBS clearance on entry to a new post, and that volunteers should not be put through the process, as their interactions with children are supposed to be controlled by proper supervision. 'If you're being told that DBS clearances have to be renewed, or that volunteers should be DBSed, it's a waste of time and money. It isn't what the legislation says.' This is peculiar as I have just myself gone through the clearance process again: the diocese is very clear that DBS is only 'valid' for five years and that mine was about to 'expire'. Meanwhile all our volunteers are indeed being put through. We have an issue at the moment with an elderly lady member of the congregation who helps out with the children's groups and who couldn't supply sufficient proof of identity: she'd never had a driving licence, never been abroad so had no passport, and had changed her name after divorce many years ago, so her birth certificate was ambiguous. None of her utility bills showed the name by which she was actually known. 'If she can't find enough documents all she can do is have a DNA test', was the response.