Duncan Sibley 11 Year Old Boy Taken Into Care By Beds County Council - His Parents Refuse To Send Him To A Comprehensive School

Anglia TV news report from Luton; an 11 year old boy has been taken into care of the local authority because his parents refuse to send him to a comprehensive school.

Duncan Sibley walks to school with three county councillors on either side of him. A man with a camera takes photographs as they walk along the street. Two photographers take pictures as they go through the doors and into the school. The exterior of the school is shown. Reporter Chris Young interviews Mrs Sibley, Duncan’s mother. Young asks about her reaction to Duncan being taken into care, to which she replies that they are absolutely horrified as she didn’t think they were actually going to do it. Young accuses her of getting herself into this position by refusing to send Duncan to a comprehensive school. She disagrees with this, saying that they are doing their duty unto the law to have him properly educated. She has nothing against comprehensive schools but she wants him educated to her wishes as he is special. She feels Duncan is only losing out if they send him to a comprehensive school. Interview with Chris Black, Chairman of Bedfordshire Education Committee, with County Hall visible in the background. When asked why they took the decision to put Duncan into care, he replies that it was because the child had not attended school since last September. He talks about comprehensive schools in Luton and that Duncan’s parents think the government should pay for him to go to private school, but the government sees no need to do this. Chris Black states that the parents are forcing the situation. As an authority the government has to ensure the child attends school and so had no choice but to put him in care.

Featured Buildings

Bedfordshire County Council, County Hall.

Keywords

Education; Social care.

Other Places

Bedford, Bedfordshire