Study: The rise of home schooling in Camden
Home schooling. Credit: Katarzyna Bialasiewicz - Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
A study looking into the growth of home education in London has revealed a 582 per cent increase in the number of children being taught at home over the last 10 years.
Camden has seen the biggest uptake of home education over the last five years (518pc) compared to just a 3pc increase in school pupils, followed by Ealing (233pc), Hillingdon (145pc) and Hackney (138pc).
The research, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by Oxford Home Schooling, part of Oxford Open Learning Trust, reveals the number of children registered as home educated in London between 2006 and 2016 increased from 559 to 3,815 children.
All London boroughs that responded to the FOI request reported an increase in home education over the last ten years.
Over the last five years alone, the number of children registered as home educated increased by 102pc.
This is compared to just a 11pc increase in the number of school pupils between 2011 and 2016.
Dr Nick Smith, who is principal at Oxford Home Schooling, said: “The growth of home education in London reflects London’s changing diversity and needs.
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“One school structure doesn’t fit all and online home education providers enable people to access alternatives much more easily.”
Oxford Home Schooling’s top tips for parents considering home education:
• Make contact with your local home education group and share skills and knowledge
• Make sure your child attends activities outside of home education groups. They will get to meet other children and socialise in a different way to the home education groups. It also gives you the chance to get involved and engaged in the local community.
• Investigate all the different varieties of home education, from autonomous education to school at home. Different things are right for different families and even different children at different points in life.
For more information go to oxfordhomeschooling.co.uk/blog/oxford-home-schooling-reports-growth-home-schooling-london.