As the new term begins across the UK,
schools are stepping into roles far
beyond teaching. Be it through food
banks, supporting families facing
housing instability.
Some are even mediating conflicts online
and resolving parking issues. But school
leaders are saying this should not be
their role. The core business of a
school is to be a place of academic
study to teach the children the
curriculum so that they get the very
best outcomes and that they can enter
the world of work or adulthood well
prepared.
>> In the report, the association of school
and college leaders clarify which
services schools might reasonably offer
provided they receive adequate funding
and resources.
But some say there's still a definite
need. Am I ever going to ignore a hungry
child or a dirty child or somebody's
going? No, of course I'm not. And so if
not us, then who? I think is the
question we have to ask ourselves. That
doesn't necessarily mean we're the best
people to do things cuz I'm don't think
we are in lots of cases, but we're
what's available.
>> Food banks, washing facilities, and
these are just some of the areas that
schools are having to provide their
local communities and children that they
serve. In addition to this, where social
media has played a role in causing
disputes out of school hours, schools
and school leaders are having to deal
with the aftermath and school leaders
are now asking for clarification from
the Department for Education because
they need to know where their roles and
responsibilities lie. As schools are
increasingly forced to shoulder social
responsibilities, the calls for clearer
boundaries and stronger support grows.
Anjan Pierre Bakos, Sky News.