Rate of pupils leaving for home education doubles

University courses Education & Childhood Studies
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1. Increasing Trend in Home Education

  • Rate of children leaving traditional classrooms for home education doubled last year.
  • Notably high rises observed in deprived areas, indicating broader issues with the education system.

2. Home Education Trends

  • Around 140,000 pupils were home educated in 2022-23, marking a 12% increase from the previous year.
  • Notably, this increase is double the rise observed in the preceding year.

3. Disparities in Home Education

  • Higher rates of home education observed in poorer areas, with some seeing significant jumps.
  • Issues such as persistent absenteeism and unmet needs cited as drivers for home education.

4. Reasons for Home Education

  • Survey indicates that around 54% of parents cited unmet needs, including mental health and SEND requirements.
  • Dissatisfaction with the school system and curriculum relevance also prominent reasons.

5. Challenges Faced by Parents

  • Lack of understanding and support for children with special needs or mental health issues cited by parents.
  • Some parents feel compelled to withdraw their children due to inadequacies in school support.

6. Government Response and Concerns

  • Concerns raised about the rapid increase in home education and lack of precise data.
  • Government pledges to work on legislation for a register of children not in school.

7. Implications and Future Directions

  • Questions arise regarding the regulation of activities outside of traditional schooling.
  • Emphasis on ensuring all children receive suitable education regardless of the setting.
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Interesting insights into the rising trend of home education. Have you or someone you know considered this option for reasons like those mentioned in the survey? What are your thoughts on the government’s response and the need for better regulation in non-traditional education settings?

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I guess there is something about home education that proves to be better than the traditional one. I do think that the traditional one is far more beneficial in terms of social skills🤔

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I have never had home education but it was something at times I think I would have preferred as I got older (due to struggling in school or with teachers). However, I do feel obtaining a good education via home education can be harder and it would likely have a negative impact on a child’s social skills.
I think the government response is definitely a step in the right direction but there is so much more that could be done in terms of making school environments places all children feel comfortable in.

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i think homeschooling is definitely a better option for students with anxiety / mental health issues as it allows for a controlled and safe environment to flourish…

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Homeschooling can indeed provide a nurturing and supportive environment for students dealing with anxiety or mental health issues. The flexibility and personalized approach can help alleviate stress and create a sense of safety, allowing students to thrive academically and emotionally.

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It would be insightful to conduct a qualitative research into why 1 student are not retaining students 2 why parents are pulling out students 3 in the long run weather experiences of home schooling in those circumstances improved academic development

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