Bad evidence: the curious case of the government-commissioned review of elective home education in England and how parents exposed its weaknesses

Governments in the United Kingdom have been contracting out policy reviews to individuals. One such review, of elective home education in England, reveals serious shortcomings to this practice. This paper explores the shortcomings - methodological and presentational - with the review, and highlights...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Evidence & Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice Debate and Practice, 2012-08, Vol.8 (3), p.361-381
Main Author: Stafford, Bruce
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Access to Information
Accountability
Education policy
Education reform
Education systems
Educational Policy
Elections
Evidence
Federal Legislation
Foreign Countries
Freedom
Freedom of information
Government Role
Home education
Home Schooling
Mass media
Methodology
Outsourcing
Social Media
Social networks
Teachers
United Kingdom
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Summary:Governments in the United Kingdom have been contracting out policy reviews to individuals. One such review, of elective home education in England, reveals serious shortcomings to this practice. This paper explores the shortcomings - methodological and presentational - with the review, and highlights the fact that there was no governmental mechanism or code against which a commissioned review can be held accountable. Although a select committee held an inquiry, it was home educators using the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and social media who identified weaknesses in the review. The review's recommendations were not implemented, but this was only because a general election was called.
ISSN:1744-2648
1744-2656
DOI:10.1332/174426412X654077