Sunday East Kent Edition - 15/11/2009 digital edition

I news WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 15, 2009 www.kentnews.co.uk for all the news and sport ADVERTISING � 01303 8170001818
A GOVERNMENT scheme forc-
ing host families in Kent to sign a
register aimed at protecting for-
eign exchange students from
child abuse could spell the end of
the age-old tradition.
This is according to MPs and headteachers
in the county who fear the stringent new
rules will kill off school exchange pro-
grammes altogether, as parents back away
from the intrusive checks.
The Department for Children, Schools and
Families is bringing in the new Vetting
and Barring Scheme (VBS) to ensure par-
ents are registered with the Independent
Safeguarding Authority (ISA) before taking
on foreign students.
But ministers are also pushing schools to
obtain Criminal Records Bureau checks,
despite there being no reported cases of child
abuse resulting from an exchange trip.
Former schools minister Michael Fallon
says the "intrusive" system � which will be in
place by November next year � could lead to
less families taking part.
The Tory MP for Sevenoaks told KOS
Media the strict rules would deter some
parents, meaning their children would
miss out on a return exchange visit.
"This will only make us more insular," he
said. "I think the Government should
rethink these plans especially as there is no
evidence of problems happening in the past.
"It will certainly deter families from taking
part in the schools exchange programme.
"This could result in the loss of a number of
exchange trips where families won't want to
take part because of the intrusive checks."
Rose Coldwell, headteacher of Clarendon
House Grammar School in Ramsgate � which
was granted specialist language school status
in 2004 � agreed the policy will have a detri-
mental effect on the exchange system.
Safety
"It will kill it completely," she said.
"I've been teaching for 30 years and I've
never heard of a case of child abuse linked
with foreign exchange trips.
"Schools know what's going on with their
students, and the parents and would never
put a child at risk. The safety of children is
paramount, but I don't think this new system
needs to be brought in."
Mrs Coldwell said students benefit from
the exchange trips, not only in learning other
languages but by making lifelong friends.
"My son is 31-years-old and he is still in
contact with the exchange student he met
when he was 14," she said.
"When students go abroad they get a good
chance to improve their language skills too.
"It will be a shame if this ends."
A spokesman from the Department for
Children, Schools and Families confirmed the
new Vetting and Barring Scheme will come
into effect by November, 2010.
He said: "In a household where there are
two parents we would expect both to be ISA
registered.
"Because families involved in school
exchanges are often unpaid, they will be
classed as volunteers and will be able to reg-
ister with the ISA free of charge.
"We recommend schools also obtain
Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks
because the ISA registration would only indi-
cate if a person is barred, it would not indi-
cate the criminal history of a person."
End for foreign exchange visits?
By MARIJKE COX
marijke.cox@kosmedia.co.uk
Rare moth find of global importance
A RARE moth has been discov-
ered in the county.
The straw belle moth is
already on the endangered list,
so the discovery made at the
National Trust beauty spot of
Wrotham Water Farm is of glob-
al importance.
The Farm, near Trottiscliffe,
has also revealed itself to be the
home of other rare species,
according to a new report.
Inspections by the Butterfly
Conservation Trust revealed
the presence of several species
of rare orchids, bumble bees and
butterflies.
The straw belle moth has been
designated a priority species for
conservation, meaning extra
care must be taken in preserv-
ing its habitat to ensure its con-
tinued survival.
The area was used to grow
wheat and barley, but in 1990
the fields of Wrotham Water
Farm were `returned to nature'.
Under the guidance of the
Natural England's Countryside
Stewardship Scheme, the
National Trust was able to
restore the chalk grassland by
planting a rare grass seed mix
and introducing a grazing regime
tohelpthemothandotherendan-
gered wildlife thrive.
Picture:MARKPARSONS
The straw
belle moth
Tel: 01634 672288
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