Home schooling is it legal?.?

Question

Just wondering if, home schooling is legal in the UK.? I know that its done in the U.S.A. What qualifications are required by law for you to be able to teach your child at home, ? and what advantages does home schooling have over the conventional modern school curiculum?.

Sorry there's more than one question.

Answer 1

I hope this link helps you. It has a lot of information about home schooling in the UK.

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/regi...

Answer 2

Yes it is legal throughout the UK (although the exact 'how to' rules differ slightly if you're in Scotland than in England & Wales). It is estimated that up to 150,000 school-aged kids are currently being home-educated in the UK; or up to 1 child in 30 in some areas.

The only qualification you need is to be the child's parent/legal guardian**. There is no obligation to follow the National Curriculum and no reason to do SATs etc. Similarly there is no obligation on the local education authority to provide you with any resources, assistance etc  

** Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 makes it clear that a child's education is the responsibility of the parent(s) to arrange 'either at school or otherwise'.

As for the advantages, these include (but are not limited to):

> Better socialisation (whatever the OPINIONS of the pro-school mob!)

> More free time to pursue co-curricular activities etc

> Stronger family relationships

> Stronger sense of self

> Less susceptible to peer pressure and peer group dependency

> Increased maturity, self-reliance, independence, responsibility etc

> Individualised learning and curriculum

> 'One to one' attention

> Greater experience of 'real life' experiences and learning

> More natural learning

> More flexible learning (no need to follow 'term dates' or 'school hours' etc); hence you can take advantage of cheaper (and less crowded) leisure facilities, entertainment, travel, holidays etc.

> Greater academic achievement

> More appealing to colleges, universities etc  

For more info:

Check out Education Otherwise for England & Wales ( http://www.education-otherwise.org )

Check out Schoolhouse if you're in Scotland ( http://www.schoolhouse.org.uk )

Edit: Matthew H is not talking about homeschool (called home-education in the UK); he is describing homebound education for when a child who is registered at school is unable to attend through illness etc. That is not home-education/homeschooling. The whole point of homeschooling is that the child is not registered with any school; instead the parent(s) takes responsibility for the organisation, planning, teaching, assessing etc of their child's education outside of the state education system.

Answer 3

Yes home schooling is legal it's normally sorted out by Dept of Education, the course work is  sorted out ,some times a tutor will visit a few times a week or you can hire a private tutor. My gf taught her son at home due to illness & the only qualifications she has is her normal GCSE's 7A levels. And alot of the work you can get help online.

Answer 4

yes it is... soem friends of mine have been home schooled by there parents ^-^ but i think conventional schooling can be better because otherwise the child will have little experience in social situations... but... it depends on the circumstances

Answer 5

Yes if you have organised it and everything....

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Answer 6

Good answer from Hannah M!

Answer 7

Yes as far as i am aware teaching your own child in the UK is perfectly legal.  However, an outsider will come in and assess the education that the child is receiving to ensure that it is up to the standard that schools deliver.  Well i don't know that there is any specific advantages.  I personally think that going to a school will be better as the teachers are trained professionals.  The environment and equipment that a school will use will be more advantageous.