Historically, home-schooling has been seen as a niche or eccentric choice of education: an option only really considered by hippies, conspiracy theorists, religious fanatics or socially awkward geniuses. Its reputation has not been a positive one: critics argue that home-schooled children are at risk of abuse and radicalisation; that it is a form of social imprisonment, keeping students away from their peers; and that it is more about pleasing over-protective, paranoid parents than doing what is best for the child.

Banning home-schooling is not the answer

Not anymore. Despite the stigma, an ever-growing minority of parents are choosing to home-school their children: 175,000 students were home-schooled in 2024/5, an increase of 15 per cent from the previous year. In England, the main reasons cited by parents were the child’s mental health (14 per cent), philosophical reasons (14 per cent), lifestyle (9 per cent) and dissatisfaction with schools (13 per cent). A disproportionately high number of home-schooled pupils (one in six) also have special educational needs or disabilities, and feel frustrated or let-down by the state provision on offer.

Home-schooling is a sensitive issue because you have to balance the rights of parents to bring up their children (and teach them) how they want, with the........

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