What Is Home Education in the UK? A Guide for Parents

Home education in the UK means parents take full responsibility for teaching their children outside of school. It is entirely legal, requires no formal qualification from parents, and is chosen by a growing number of families for reasons ranging from special educational needs to philosophical preference.

Is home education legal in the UK?

Yes. In England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, parents have a statutory duty to ensure their child receives a suitable full-time education — but that education does not have to happen in a school. The relevant legislation in England is Section 7 of the Education Act 1996, which places the duty on parents rather than schools.

This means parents can choose to educate their children at home from the start, or withdraw them from school at any point. There is no requirement to follow the National Curriculum, use qualified teachers, or observe school hours.

What must parents do — and what is optional?

The rules in England distinguish between what is legally required of home educating parents and what is merely conventional. The table below summarises the position.

Requirement | Required? | Notes
Provide a suitable full-time education | Yes | "Suitable" means appropriate to the child's age, ability, and any special needs
Follow the National Curriculum | No | The curriculum is only mandatory in state-funded schools
Notify the local authority before starting | No (unless leaving school) | If deregistering a child from school, you must notify the headteacher in writing
Allow local authority visits or inspections | No | The LA may make enquiries; parents can respond in writing instead
Register with the local authority (England) | No (currently) | Proposed legislation may introduce a register; check current gov.uk guidance
Teach specific hours per day | No | Families set their own timetable
Arrange GCSEs or qualifications | No | But most families do so; see section below on exams

What do local authorities actually do?

Local authorities (LAs) in England have a duty to identify children who are not receiving a suitable education. They may contact home educating families to check that provision is adequate. However, this is not an inspection — parents are under no legal obligation to admit LA officers into their home or permit observation of lessons.

If the LA has reason to believe that a child is not receiving a suitable education, it can issue a School Attendance Order requiring the child to be enrolled at a named school. Parents who receive such an order and disagree with it can appeal to a magistrates' court.

Does home education have to look like school?

No. Home education can take many forms:

Structured lessons following a commercial curriculum provider

Child-led learning based on the child's own interests (sometimes called "unschooling")

Hybrid approaches mixing home sessions with external tutoring, online classes, or co-operatives with other home educating families

Flexi-schooling, where a school agrees to the child attending part-time (this requires the school's consent)

There is no one correct method, and the law simply requires that the education be "efficient" and "suitable" — terms that have been interpreted broadly by the courts.

How does home education work in practice?

Many families structure their days around a loose timetable, covering core subjects such as English, maths, and science in the mornings and pursuing creative or project-based work in the afternoons. Typical resources include:

Online platforms and video lessons

Library books and past exam papers

Local home education groups and co-operatives

Paid tutors for specialist subjects (particularly at GCSE level)

Museum visits, nature study, and community projects

The flexibility of home education means that a child who learns better at non-standard hours, or who needs additional support in a particular area, can have their timetable adjusted accordingly.

What about home education and GCSEs?

Parents are not required to enter their child for GCSEs, but most do so if they intend for the child to progress to A-Levels, apprenticeships, or employment requiring formal qualifications. Home educated children can sit GCSEs as a private candidate at an exam centre — they do not need to be enrolled at a school.

Key points for home educators pursuing GCSEs:

Contact exam centres (often local schools or colleges) well in advance — some are reluctant to accept private candidates.

Budget for exam fees, which parents pay directly (no free entitlement applies).

Plan for subjects with a non-exam assessment (NEA) component, such as GCSE English Language, which requires controlled conditions and may need a registered centre.

Register with a relevant awarding body (AQA, OCR, Pearson/Edexcel) to access syllabuses and specimen papers.

When should parents consider home education?

Home education suits a wide range of circumstances. Families often consider it when:

A child has special educational needs or a disability (SEND) that is not well-met by mainstream school

A child is experiencing bullying, school anxiety, or school refusal

The family travels frequently or lives abroad temporarily

Parents have strong philosophical, religious, or pedagogical objections to mainstream schooling

A child is exceptionally gifted and needs a faster or deeper curriculum

It is worth speaking to the local authority's home education team and connecting with established home educating networks before making the decision, as the commitment is substantial.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a teaching qualification to home educate my child?

No. There is no legal requirement for a home educating parent to hold any teaching qualification. The law only requires that the education provided be "suitable" — meaning efficient, full-time, and appropriate to the child's age and ability. Many parents use structured curricula, online resources, or external tutors to supplement areas where they feel less confident.

Can I home educate part-time and send my child to school for some lessons?

This is known as flexi-schooling and is legal in England, but it requires the agreement of the school's headteacher. Schools are not obliged to offer flexi-schooling, and most do not. If a school agrees, the child remains on the school roll and the parent is responsible for the home education portion.

What happens if the local authority thinks my child is not receiving a suitable education?

The LA may issue a notice asking you to demonstrate that the education is suitable. If you cannot satisfy the LA, it may issue a School Attendance Order requiring enrolment at a named school. Parents can appeal this order. In practice, LAs rarely take formal action where parents are clearly engaged and can show evidence of learning.

Will my child miss out on socialisation?

This is a common concern, but many home educated children socialise extensively through local home education groups, sports clubs, community activities, and online learning communities. Research does not show that home educated children are systematically less well-socialised than their school-attending peers, though outcomes depend heavily on the family's approach and resources.

For subject support at KS3 and GCSE, visit aitutors.me.