ITV investigation reveals thousands of children at risk in illegal religious schools in England

Humanists UK has responded to a major ITV News investigation that highlights the scale of illegal religious schools in England, warning that thousands of children are still being denied their right to a safe, broad, and balanced education. The investigation, supported by Humanists UK, revealed that children are often taught in unsafe and unsanitary conditions by unqualified staff, with many settings operating beyond proper safeguarding oversight.

ITV identified more than 20 suspected illegal schools in London, Leicester, and Manchester. Former pupils described children leaving these settings unable to properly read, write, or do basic maths. These schools often serve a variety of religious communities, including Muslim, Jewish, and Christian, many of which are fundamentalist, extreme, or isolationist in their outlook. They exploit legal loopholes by claiming not to provide full-time education or presenting themselves as supplementary religious instruction while in practice providing the only education children receive.

Children in these settings may be denied essential subjects such as English, maths, science, and relationships and sex education. They may also lack safeguarding protections and access to wider society. ITV reported that Ofsted has carried out 1,839 investigations into suspected illegal schools over the last decade, but has secured only a small number of prosecutions. Former Ofsted officials warned that the problem remains far larger than the authorities have been able to uncover, with estimates ranging from 6,000 children in illegal schools to tens of thousands.

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act, which became law in April, includes measures to strengthen Ofsted’s powers to investigate and close illegal schools, widen the definition of regulated education settings, and create a Children Not in School Register. Humanists UK supported these reforms as they went through Parliament and welcomed their passage into law.

The investigation underscores the urgent need for accountability and legal reform to protect children from harm. As Micah 6:8 reminds us, we are called to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. This calls for a commitment to justice and care for the vulnerable, ensuring that all children have access to a safe and comprehensive education.

Source: Read the original report