It is unknown how many children are currently in home education as there is no formal register for them, with registration with the local authority being voluntary, however, there were an estimated 125,000 children in England in home education (1.4% of pupils) at some point in the 2021/22 academic year, up from an estimated 118,000 the year before, according to Schools Week.
According to research carried out by Robert Long and Shadi Danechi and presented to parliament in December 2023, the main reasons parents choose to home educate their children are:
• Ideological or philosophical views
• Religious or cultural beliefs
• Dissatisfaction with the school system, or the school which the child attends
• Bullying of the child at school
• Health reasons, particularly mental health of the child
• As a short-term intervention for a particular reason
• A child’s unwillingness or inability to go to school
• Special educational needs, or a perceived lack of suitable provision in the school system for those needs
• Disputes with a school over the education, special needs or behaviour of the child, in some cases resulting in ‘off-rolling’. (Defined in the guidance as instances ‘where a child is withdrawn from a school by the parent as a result of pressure from the school rather than it being a purely voluntary decision.’)
• Familial reasons which have nothing to do with schools or education (for example, using older children educated at home as carers)
• As a stop-gap while waiting for a place at a school. (Department of Education, Elective Home Education: Departmental guidance for local authorities, April 2019, p7.)
The Department of Education does not collect data on the educational attainment of home educated children, so it is difficult to provide actual statistics on those who elect home education. This, however, is not the case for those that are home educated, or homeschooled as is the term there, in the United States of America, where approximately 3.1 million children (6% of pupils) are out of mainstream education.
The National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) ( https://www.nheri.org/research-facts-on-homeschooling/ ) claims that the home educated typically score 15 to 25 percentile points above public-school students on standardised academic achievement tests. (Ray, 2010, 2015, 2017; Ray & Hoelzle, 2024), with 78% of peer-reviewed studies on academic achievement showing homeschool students perform statistically significantly better than those in institutional schools (Ray,2017).
This positive news continues with homeschooled students scoring above average on achievement tests regardless of their parents’ level of formal education, or their family’s household income.
Insofar as the social, emotional, and psychological development aspect, an issue that seems to be one of the first raised, the same report states ‘Research facts of homeschooling shows that the home-educated are doing well, typically above average, on measures of social, emotional, and psychological development. Research measures include peer interaction, self-concept, leadership skills, family cohesion, participation in community service, and self-esteem.’ It goes on to say ‘87% of peer-reviewed studies on social, emotional, and psychological development show homeschool students perform statistically significantly better than those in conventional schools. (Ray, 2017).
Moving into adulthood, ‘69% of peer-reviewed studies on success into adulthood (including college) show adults who were home educated succeed and perform statistically better than those who attended institutional schools (Ray, 2017). ‘, and ‘they participate in local community service more frequently than does the general population (e.g. Seiver & Pope, 2022).’.
There are several studies that support these findings and go on to confirm that colleges are actively seeking homeschooled students, and even employers are choosing homeschooled applicants due to their superior confidence levels.
Why would these findings be like this? What would make home education a better choice for your child?
The current education system has evolved over centuries, influenced by various social, economic and political factors. Governments have aimed to provide universal access to education to ensure that all children, regardless of social class, had the opportunity to receive basic education. This has been driven by the belief that an educated population is essential for democracy and economic progress.
Whilst the education process has evolved as the tools we have access to have improved, from printing presses, to photocopiers to smart boards and online courses, mainstream schooling still only provides a standard education to enable a student to pass a standard test.
Home education has a number of positives including personalised learning, whereby parents can tailor a curriculum to suit their child’s unique needs, interests and learning styles. They will be able to focus on their strengths and weaknesses, spending more time where their child may struggle, and moving quickly through areas where they excel, thus enabling a more balanced and thorough education.
Home educating offers flexibility in scheduling, allowing families to set their own pace, take breaks when needed, enjoy family events, and accommodate a child’s natural rhythms and energy levels. Without being tied to a school calendar, learning can happen all year round without a break in stride and the child suffering with a downward slide in knowledge over a long school break.
Home education offers a safe learning environment, with no bullying, peer pressure, or other social issues that can affect their mental and emotional well-being. This also allows for more family time, fostering stronger relationships between parents and children, leading to better communication, understanding, and support within the family. The additional family time allows the family to learn together, engage in joint projects, and explore interests as a team, enriching the educational experience and creating lasting memories.
Home educated children receive more one-on-one attention, which can lead to a deeper understanding of subjects and improved academic performance. Personalised and interest-driven learning can increase a child’s motivation and engagement, leading to a more enjoyable and effective educational experience.
As they take more responsibility for their own education, home educated children often develop strong self-motivation and independent learning skills, and as home education can incorporate real world experiences and practical skills, they emerge with far more practical skills than are emphasised in traditional schools, such as cooking, budgeting, and time management.
Home education families often participate in co-ops, clubs, sports, and other group activities, allowing children to interact with peers of various ages and backgrounds, leading to better social skills than those that imposed on them by spending most of their time sitting in a room with the same children day after day. These families can also engage in communities through volunteering, internships, and local events, fostering a sense of civic responsibility and social awareness.
Without the pressure of standardised tests and the competitive atmosphere of traditional schools, home educated children can learn in a more relaxed and supportive environment, which can better accommodate children with special needs, learning disabilities, or mental health issues.
On short, home education offers a flexible, personalised, and often enriching educational experience. It allows for a tailored curriculum, strong family bonds, and a safe learning environment while fostering independence, practical skills, and community involvement.
