Ofsted - 'not in my youth camp'

In a letter published in the Telegraph in January, Christian MP David Burrowes responds to the apparent intention of Ofsted to insist on the registration of Church youth groups.

'Last week Open Doors published their World Watch List of the persecution of Christians by country. Christians are all too aware of the increasing threats to religious freedom from militant Islam. So the Government's plan to tackle radicalisation is welcome. However, it is both ironic and wrong to catch Christian groups in a blanket requirement for registration and inspection of "out of school" education of more than 6 to 8 hours a week.

'Next month my family will be involved in a holiday club for over 100 children at our local church in Enfield and in the summer I help lead a youth camp of 50 teenagers. These are just two examples of thousands across the country which represent over half of all youth provision in this country. We know and welcome the current legal requirements of safeguarding and child protection. However the prospect of state registration and routine inspection of our activities alongside thousands like them across the country is a huge step too far.

'The words of the Chief Inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw on LBC radio show on Thursday, that "if church or religious groups want to run out of school classes then they need to register" blows a chill wind across religious freedom. At a meeting on Tuesday with the Education Secretary and Ofsted, I will be demanding an end to this unnecessary plan. If the Government does not back down on plans for universal registration, I will call upon all churches to refuse to accept Ofsted's registration and inspection regime.

Authoritarian state

'No one would stand in the way of a targeted and intelligence led approach to protecting children, but Ofsted's plans smack of the heavy hand of an authoritarian state that has no place in Britain and I hope no place in Government. It is an outrageous and unacceptable threat to religious freedom. It is an attack on the very British values of tolerance, freedom and respect for others which Ofsted and the Government seek to promote.

'Make no mistake, that if the registration and inspection regime comes into effect I will not let inspectors into my youth camp and I expect thousands others to join me in refusing to accept Ofsted new role as religious police.'