I thought that I had better clear up the mad idea which seems to be circulating on the internet that I have some sort of connection with Graham Badman. In the general way of things I try and ignore this sort of thing, but I have now received two emails from home educated children asking me to intercede with Graham Badman. The one I received yesterday was from the email account of somebody called Carol Williams in Alton, Hampshire. Her son has been told that Graham Badman is my friend and that I used to work for him! This young boy's message enclosed attachments giving his real name and address and it is this dangerous proceeding which tells me that it is time to call a halt to this. Imagine encouraging your child to send his name and address to some crank on the internet whom you have never met and know nothing about! I would be worried if other parents started doing this.
The only connection I have ever had with Graham Badman is that my daughter and I contacted him during the review and asked for our views to be heard. We spoke for half an hour on April 28th this year, since when I have had no more to do with him. After my articles were published in the TES and Independent, some fool googled my name and Graham Badman's and discovered that a Simon Webb used to work in Kent at the same time as Graham Badman. Thus was the rumour born that we had some sort of connection. Others have then taken this and tried to spread it around in order to smear me. Yesterday I posted for a couple of hours a spoof bio of Ali Edgley. I did this because I was very irritated with her as she had written to a couple of newspapers stating as a fact that I was a friend of Graham Badman. Perhaps we could just stop this foolishness now?
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I came here from a tweet link and by goodness did I waste my time!!
ReplyDeleteI have skimmed the few posts you have managed to throw together over the past few days and all I can say is that I feel you would benefit greatly from taking time out to research your subject.
As you are a blogger of only a few days standing who has quite obviously not got the foggiest concept of what you are doing I will certainly not be following you .
A fair comment indeed! Yes, you are quite right. I am a blogger of only a few days standing. Is it really that obvious? I dare say that with time this blog will begin to appear a little more professional, but in the meantime I'm afraid that people like you must simply vote with their feet! I don't really blame you.
ReplyDeleteBecause Elain's blog is so professional isn't it? Oh, my mistake!
ReplyDeleteCarol Williams should be more careful - isn't that a child proctection issue? Are you sure it was her son Master Peter Williams not her husband, Mr Peter Williams (one can imagine this which causes the Royal Mail some confusion).
ReplyDeleteWell, the person signed himself Master Peter Williams and said that he was home educated.... I replied and then received another email almost at once. Despite saying that I felt uneasy about communicating with a child like this, he then sent me another email. Altogether, I have a lot of personal information now about a child I have never met, including his hobbies, IQ and home address. If anybody knows Carol Williams, perhaps it would be worth mentioning this to her. Without wishing to be discourteous, I really don't want to send any more emails to this address.
ReplyDeleteYou and your daughter appear on YouTube, Bebo, and various other web sites and give out a fair amount of information between you, certainly enough to pinpoint a town quite easily. Should you be throwing stones?
ReplyDeleteHeaven forbid that someone should show concern!! Simon wasn't "throwing stones" but expressing an opinion that sharing details such as home address, hobbies and IQ with any "Simon Webb" may not be sensible. That said there is much about Carol and her family on the net because of their fight with the local County Council.
ReplyDeleteEvery one know where we live and simon forgot to say what the attachments where which included very good letter to Ed Balls M.P and to Graham Badman about why no reply to Peter letters! as for the fight with council not heard a word from them for almost 3 years! siimon pulls the welfare card but never follosw though with it!
ReplyDeleteoops spelling error follow
ReplyDeleteI don't know where you live
ReplyDeletewell you should bubble look us up on internet Peter is famous! I wonder we not heard anything from the council for almost 3 years? We have to write to them and ask what is going on! has our file been lost! he did lose some work Peter did including a maths test!
ReplyDeleteYou know Carol, it is nothing to me at all if you want your son to email some crackpot he does not know on the internet. I'm interested to know who told him that I work with Graham Badman, because that is plain fantasy. Apart from that, if you don't mind me knowing your son's address, date of birth and everything else, well that's fine! I was just concerned for your son, but if you're happy with it, so am I.
ReplyDeleteevery one knows where we live Peter is famous as a home educated child IQ 170 plays chess for england he has also had 2 films made about him! you forgot to put in Peter Brillint letters to Ed Balls M.P and Graham Badman and why both of them never answered and why Graham would not meet him Peter also famous for refusing to allow his LA Access to our home that sure did hurt i be coming round he said and Peter said no thanks! six years ago that was!
ReplyDeleteyou got any conerns report it to our LA becuase we not heard a thing from them for almost 3 years last i heard was he given up and gone on to find an easy victim!
you appear to be mouth piece for Graham Badman you not find many home educators who will go along with good old Graham and most have said NO thanks! you can shove you report??
It isn't my report, I had nothing to do with it. I didn't read the letters which your son sent as attachments. As soon as I saw that they were not addressed to me, I stopped reading. I understood that he wished me to forward them, but since I could not do so, there was no point in my reading them. You may not see anything wrong with encouraging a young teenager to correspond in this way with a man in his late fifties who he has never met. I do see something worng with it, which is why I will not do it.
ReplyDeleteReport it then if you see something worrying about it go for it? you want the address of the so called Head LEA officer for our area? mind you he is rubbish at his job must write to him to find out why he give up on us! all those threats he made and then when Peter said do it he went very shy! see he is like Graham can only pick on the weak! like you all talk and no action! hiding behind so called child welfare concerns but doing nothing to help all those children who are attacked in school each day! the attack on home education is an attempt to cover up the failing of state schools such the schools in east london!
ReplyDeleteits good new to hear that Ed and Labour will be baldly defeated at next election Ed seat is at risk! you think he hang on to see Cameron take over in common who is against Badman report!
The letters have been sent to both Ed Balls and Graham Badman guess what no reply. see below
Rt Hon Ed Balls MP
Sanctuary Buildings
Great Smith Street
Westminster
London
SW1P 3BT
Dear Rt Hon Ed Balls MP
You have not replied to my letter of the 15.6.09 about the Home Education Review by Graham Badman. What is the reason for this delay? Would it be easier for you to visit or me to visit you instead? I am very concerned about Graham Badman’s recommendations in his Home Education Review.
Yours Sincerely
Peter A Williams
A Home Educated Child
Graham Badman CBE
Institute of Education
University of London
20 Bedford Way
London
WC1H OAL
Dear Mr. Badman
Why have you not replied to my letter of the 12.6.09 about your Home Education Review? I am very concerned about this review and I am extremely puzzled because most of the recommendations will not help home educators. As I said in my letter of 12.6.09 the recommendation about giving LA officers the right to speak with the child alone will not help for a few reasons and one of them is that you would have no independent record of what was said. Also it may frighten younger children and children with special needs.
Yours Sincerely
Peter A Williams
A Home Educated Child
I know nothing about you and have no interest in reporting you to anybody. Can you not simply get on with your life and stop making a nuisance of yourself?
ReplyDeleteare you saying that Peter letters are a nuisance?
ReplyDeleteyou wanna ask Graham that question about being a nuisance after all he did start it with his rubbish review poking his nose in where it is not wanted! home educators have told him no thanks!
how about this letter by Peter
Lord Ralph Lucas
The House of Lords
London
SWIA OPW
Dear Lord Ralph Lucas
I am writing to you about the Home Education Review by Graham Badman. I am very concerned about the recommendations in it especially the one about giving LA officers the right to enter the house and the right to speak with the child alone. This would not help home educators and may also frighten younger children. The parents would also not have an independent record of what was said during the interview between the LA officer and the child. The recommendation about a registration system does not seem too bad at first but later on the review says that LA’s can revoke registration on safeguarding grounds. This means that an LA can refuse registration with any safeguarding reason and since many LA’s consider home education a safeguarding concern in itself this would be an unnecessary power. It would also be an annoying power because home educators will have to battle with their LA’s. It will also be a criminal offence to not register and this will be awkward for home educators. I enjoy home education because I can follow my interests. My interests are Taekwon-do, and chess. I also go to the Scouts and a Trampoline club. Some home educators have organized a mass lobby of parliament over the home education review and I will be going there to lobby my Local MP Michael Mates. It will be interesting to see what happens. The lobby is on the 13th of October 2009.
Yours Sincerely
Peter A Williams
A Home Educated Child
With all the letters he is writing (ahem) it's a wonder Peter has time for any home education really
ReplyDeleteCarol (or should that be anonymous ?)Graham Badman was commissioned to do a review and make recommendations. Most of the report says "I believe" as in - it is my personal opinion - it is up to the government if they take heed of the recommendations. It is much the same for Simon - he believes it is wrong for Peter to share information with random names off the internet. You don't have to agree with him or with Mr Badman but you do have to respect their view without being extraordinary defensive or abusive. (Sorry if I got this wrong Simon)
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think it quite possible that all those you / Peter has written to have busy lives and as such may not have time to reply to letters. Here's an idea though, why don't you do a FOI request to find out how many letters get unanswered - that should be right up your street.
Government have said they will take carry on Badman review in full se Ed letter to Graham Su.Some did reply including David Cameron M.P nice letter no the reason Ed and Graham will not reply is because Peter did not write to agree with them! does Ed not work for the tax payer as well? not for much longer labour are going how many seats will they lose?
ReplyDeleterandom names on internet?
Bubble quite right that is why we use letter writing as English! how to complain? Peter geting very good at it! of course if you have any conerns contact the head of our LEA you want his address? mind you he is rubbish at his job would not follow though with his threats!not heard from him in almost 3 years i wonder if he left i check and let you know i tell him Bubble if you want that you have conern about Peter education?
Simon is a mouth piece for Graham Badman. who wants forced home visits along with inter- viewing child on it own.We put that freedom of infromation request in thanks SU we not thought of that one!
all done Su and often DCSF forget to reply and then you can make complaint! very useful!
ReplyDeleteHi
I request under the freedom of information act how may letters sent to Ed Balls M.P where not answered in the year 2009 about the Home Education review.
Yours Sincerely
i let you know the answer or if i have to complain about no reply!
"he believes it is wrong for Peter to share information with random names off the internet."
ReplyDeleteBit strange when he took his child onto a TV programme giving their full names (you can see it on YouTube), she has a Bebo page and her photo and information about her hobbies and interests (poetry writing, youth council,etc) and location have been published on various internet pages and are available for everyone with an internet connection to see.
Carol - if the government take on the review it is hardly Graham's fault is it? They could have asked you to do the review and offer your beliefs but may or may not implement your recommendations. BTW how is Peter's maths coming along?
ReplyDeleteBubble- of course it is Graham's Fault if governement takes on his review as he Graham knew what the DCSF wanted ie to be pretend to be tough on home education.His review is rubbish and we will not be taking any notice of it or allowing any home visits who want to be frist to try and get though the dood have a nice surspise for you! you think Graham will come and watch we send him an invite.
ReplyDeleteMaths is going really well along with most other subjects! including chess! and a few weeks ago he crused an adult teacher at a chess game but did it nice and slow like a cat playing with a mouse!
I checked with coucil and the same fool is still in charge of home education she claimed he was out of the office any way i told some one had concerns about Peter education spending to much tine leter writing she appeared unsure what to do!
Carol - as Simon said you do love making a nuisance of yourself don't you?
ReplyDeleteTruth hurt does it anonymous? you want the address of the head of home education you could phone tell him you belive child not geting home education? see if you can give home the backbone to take action! sadly your not get any way as he is like simon all talk and NO action!
ReplyDeleteCarol - what truth?? You really need to calm down on this matter I think. It's not a personal vendetta against you. Do you think you might have a persecution complex? I do.
ReplyDeleteyour talking to Peter dad(have you noticed that every one thinks it is women who does the home teaching!) not carol! of course it is a vendetta against home educators! i never take any notice of psychologist! your barking!
ReplyDeletesee below for first step in finding out how many letter Ed Balls has not answered!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your recent email. A reply will be sent to you as soon as possible (where a response is required). For information, the departmental standard for correspondence received is that responses should be sent within 15 working days or 20 working days if you are requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Your correspondence has been allocated the reference number 2009/0072160
Thank you.
Public Communications Unit
Department for Children, Schools and Families
Tel: 0870 000 2288
www.dcsf.gov.uk
Again you resort to personal insults and generalisations. All psychologists are "barking" eh? At least my grammer is correct - not "your" but "you're" - ah the benefits of a proper education.
ReplyDeleteDid i fail the spelling test oh dear report me to the teacher! you want the address of that fool who is in charge of home education in our area?(he earns i should i say gets paid over £40.000 a year very nice! sees himself as something of a tough guy but can never follow though with his threats oh please do not serve a school attendance order on me i am so scared! i thought he had left but he is still hanging on god knows what he does all day? ANY IDEAS? It is a vendetta against home educators but your be pleased to hear that we will not be taking any notice of good old Badman crazy report! what are you going to do about that then?
ReplyDeleteA psychologist said...
ReplyDeleteAgain you resort to personal insults and generalisations. All psychologists are "barking" eh? At least my grammer is correct - not "your" but "you're" - ah the benefits of a proper education.
!!
I hope you're not really a psychologist - I'd hope they have better spelling skills! If you are going to criticize someone else's English skills you should maybe make use of a spell checker.
Why would I say I was if I wasn't?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - Peter / Carol - I am going to do nothing. What do you want me to do?
ReplyDeletePsychologist report it if you have any concerns about a child not geting a suitable education or have you just not got the guts to do it? maybe your get that fool from the LA to get off his backside and go for it! after he filled in his tick box of course!
ReplyDeleteA seven-year-old chess champion has been removed from school by his parents to be taught at home after his local education authority refused to allow him time off for training.
ReplyDeletePeter and Carol Williams have decided to teach their son, Peter, at their home in Alton, Hampshire, to enable him to practice chess as often as possible. Their decision comes after Peter's school, St Lawrence primary in Alton, refused to grant his parents' request to allow him one day off per week to play chess.
Mr Williams said he wanted to give his son every opportunity to master the game for which he has shown an unusual talent since the age of five, saying: "Peter is the best chess player of his age in the country. We just want him to have the very best chance. "We wanted him to have time to study and, as children of his age learn best in the morning, we wanted to take him out of school one day a week. But the school and the local education authority were treating it as truancy. It's a disgrace really."
Mr Williams explained that since he introduced Peter to the game, the youngster had gone on to win a series of contests against older children and even adults, including winning the Central London Adult Rapid Play tournament and the Coulsdon Adult Long Play championship.
Peter has now been taught at home by his father for the past two weeks. His father says he expects Peter will remain out of school until he is old enough to go to secondary school, where he hopes the system will be more flexible.
A spokesman for Hampshire county council said: "It is a very difficult situation. The father is wanting something that is not possible. We have to ensure we are giving Peter every possible opportunity and fulfilling our legal obligations and responsibilities.
"We are continuing to support the family and the LEA will be there to support them with the curriculum to ensure Peter is being taught adequately at home."
is that still on the web after all those years amazing it was June 23 2003. i like the last bit of the quote lets take a closer look at it
ReplyDeleteWe are continuing to support the family and the LEA will be there to support them with the curriculum to ensure Peter is being taught adequately at home"
I think it was Don Allen who wrote this he is dead now! of course NO support was given and in return HCC never did find out in the way there wanted if Peter was being taught adequately at home and that really hurt them! no meeting NO home Visits that got up there nose! Not heard from them in almost 3 years and was also amazed to find out good old Jim was still alive i thought he was dead as well! Jim McGilvery Bottled out of the school attendance order dispite our best effect to get him to follow though with it! may be some of you on here could phone him and get him to go for it! I want to burn the school attendnace order on councilor Ludlow coal fire! Mary why dont you phone him? or Simon you could to? any one phone him? mind you would he do anything? he was so slow
We are full council tax payers and inceome tax payers the only benfit we get his child allownance every one with child get this?.mind you i have heard that when child get to 16 home educators have trouble geting child benfit?
Some one thought i claimed benfits which allowed us to home educate! i would if i could but am not entitled.
I'm confused - is this Simon's blog or somewhere for Carol /Peter to post continually? Who is Mary btw?
ReplyDeletei think marry wants to marry simon? and Jim be best man? oh heis the attendance manger for Hampshire i think i though he was dead but he is alive and well! but ive no idea who she is other than she dislike home education and wants lots of checks home visits searchinng of child for abuse looking under foorboards and searching till you find abuse.i going to check me loft in a bit any one in there?
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