Today’s Education in the Media blog looks at those from the education and children’s care sectors recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, as well as addressing the closure of the National Adoption Register in March.
Queen’s Birthday Honours
On Friday 7 June, the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for 2019 was published. This year’s list includes 96 figures from the education and children’s services sectors, including headteachers, governors, principals and foster carers.
Jon Coles, CEO of United Learning Academy Trust has been honoured with the highest accolade of a Knighthood – as has Nigel Carrington, Vice-Chancellor of University of the Arts London.
Education Secretary, Damian Hinds said:
I would like to congratulate all the recipients on the Queen’s Birthday Honours List awards, who have been recognised for their outstanding service to education, or children’s social care, and who are driving social mobility in our society.
Social mobility starts with giving young people the confidence to achieve amazing things and cope with the challenges life brings – something I have been championing through my 5 foundations for building character.
This list highlights the many committed professionals who are working tirelessly across education and children’s services to deliver better outcomes for young people and students across the country, and I want to personally thank them for their dedication.
Adoption Register
Today, Monday 10 June, the Independent reported on the closure of the National Adoption Register in March this year. The article focused on comments from Lord Trefgarne, who questioned whether it was correct to close the register without alternative arrangements.
The average time for a child entering care and being placed with a family has reduced by 7 months in 2017-18 compared to 2012-13, and since the closure of the National Adoption Register on March 31, there has been no feedback from adoption agencies to suggest they are struggling without it.
Minister for Children and Families Nadhim Zahawi said:
Every child deserves to have a loving, stable home that’s right for them, and thousands of adoptive families have had their lives transformed by adoption. I am pleased to see that the time it takes for a child to be adopted has been falling. Before the National Adoption Register closed, 93% of adoption agencies were choosing to pay for a commercial alternative despite the register being free, and none have raised concerns since its closure. Children continue to be matched with caring and devoted families through the use of more popular commercial alternatives. On top of this we have invested £100 million in the Adoption Support Fund, which helps adopted children and families to adjust to their new lives together and are looking at new ways in which digital technology can support fostering and adoption.
Follow us on Twitter and don't forget to sign up for email alerts.