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Ofsted chief renews plea for tougher powers to tackle illegal schools

Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman has made a renewed plea for greater powers to tackle unregistered schools, amid concerns children's safety is being put at risk.

Appearing before the education select committee, Spielman told MPs that new powers are necessary as children at illegal settings are at risk of radicalisation and abuse.

She said she wants inspectors to be able to seize evidence and prevent school staff removing documents and data, both of which they are currently unable to do.

Spielman previously called for new legal powers to tackle unregistered schools in December last year during the launch of Ofsted's 2017 annual report.

However, last month education minister Lord Agnew of Oulton said that the government had no plans to strengthen the inspectorate's powers.

"I would very much like to have stronger powers to get entry into suspected unregistered schools and to seize evidence," Spielman told education committee members.

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