Sara Sharif Case Prompts Stricter Home-Schooling Regulations in England

The murder of 10-year-old Sara Sharif by her father and stepmother highlights gaps in safeguarding and leads to new legislative measures to protect vulnerable children.

Sara Sharif's father, Urfan Sharif, and stepmother, Beinash Batool, were sentenced to life in prison for her murder, which involved years of severe abuse described by the judge as 'torture.'
The abuse was concealed through homeschooling, allowing the perpetrators to evade scrutiny despite prior safeguarding concerns raised by Sara's school and social services.
New legislation, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, introduces stricter oversight of homeschooling, including mandatory registers and restrictions for families under child protection investigations.
The case has intensified calls for reforms to child protection systems, with the children’s commissioner advocating for tighter oversight of children removed from schools.
Sara’s death has also drawn attention to the rising number of homeschooled children in England, with experts emphasizing the need to balance parental rights with safeguarding responsibilities.