Rise in Home Education in England: Over 175,000 Children Educated at Home
New government figures reveal a significant increase in the number of children being homeschooled in England, with more than 175,000 reported as educated outside traditional schools during the last academic year. This marks a 15% rise from the previous year, highlighting a growing trend that has raised concerns among educators and policymakers.
Current Statistics on Home Education
According to data from the Department for Education (DfE), a total of 175,900 children were electively home educated at some point during the 2024/25 academic year, up from 153,300 the previous year. Particularly notable is the autumn term of 2025, which saw approximately 126,000 children being homeschooled, representing a small fraction of the nine million school-aged children in England.
Reasons for Home Education
Among the families choosing home education, mental health emerged as a primary concern, with 16% of parents citing it as the key reason for withdrawing their children from school. Additionally, 12% indicated “philosophical or preferential” motives for their decision.
Further analysis reveals that many children being homeschooled have additional needs. One in six students required special educational support, while 7% were under education, health, and care plans (EHCPs). Experts suggest that inadequate funding in schools and lack of support tailored to these needs are driving this trend.
Expert Opinions on the Increase
Jo Hutchinson, co-director for early years and wellbeing at the Education Policy Institute (EPI), expressed concern over the continued rise in home education numbers. She emphasised the importance of maintaining a sense of belonging for children with special educational needs and mental health challenges within mainstream schools, while also ensuring sufficient specialist placements for those with more complex requirements.
Michelle Zaher, co-director at the non-profit Educational Freedom, noted that an increasing number of parents are now aware of their right to home educate. She suggested that rising taxation has pushed some families out of the private sector, leading them to consider online schooling due to limited state school options. Zaher further stated that some families feel compelled to home educate because of failures in the local authority’s system to meet EHCP guidelines and insufficient funding for essential support services in schools.
Mental Health Focus
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), highlighted the troubling trend of mental health being a common reason for parents electing to homeschool their children. He called for increased investment in community mental health services to counteract this issue.
Government Response
The government is planning to introduce stricter regulations around home education, as part of its Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. This new legislation will require parents to seek local authority consent in specific situations. A spokesperson for the DfE asserted that while most children thrive in school environments, parents retain the right to educate at home when it is deemed beneficial for their child’s wellbeing.
Notably, the autumn term figures also indicated a decline in children missing education, with 34,700 recorded as such, down from 39,200 the previous year. This statistic may suggest improvements in school attendance rates, yet the rise in home education remains a pressing concern.
Background
The increasing prevalence of home education reflects broader societal issues, including mental health concerns and dissatisfaction with the educational system’s ability to accommodate diverse needs. The ongoing discussion surrounding resources and support for children with special educational needs and mental health difficulties is crucial for shaping future educational policies in the UK.
Source: Original Article
