Number of children being home schooled in UK rises by 41% over three years

The number of children being home schooled has risen by more than 40 per cent in three years, figures show.

Thousands more pupils are no longer being taught in classrooms across the UK – and avoiding school exclusions was one of the main reasons given by parents.

The latest figures, obtained from councils across the country by the BBC, shows that 48,000 children were home schooled in 2016/17 – up from 34,000 in 2014/15, and a rise of 41 per cent.

Of the 177 local authorities that were able to provide data for three years, 164 reported an increase. And the Isle of Wight had the highest proportion of home schooled pupils – almost one in 50

The findings come as the government considers introducing a compulsory register of children taught outside of school after concerns were raised about pupils going missing from the system.

The Association of Directors of Children’s Services in England wants those who home school to register with their local authority – and for inspectors to be able to take action if they find an issue.

Last month, Ofsted boss Amanda Spielman said she was “very concerned” about a growth in home education which she partly blamed on schools “shovelling” children back to parents.

Dr Carrie Herbert, the founder of The Red Balloon charity, which supports children outside mainstream education, told the BBC she was concerned some parents might feel pressured into home schooling their children to avoid exclusion, or prosecution over poor attendance.

Headteachers and local authority officers suggested in an education select committee last month that home schooling had surged because of accountability pressures.

David Whitaker, an alternative academies principal in Barnsley, said some under pressure teachers hint to parents that elective home education may be the best option for their child.