The number of children in home education has increased in many areas of the country in the last five years – and in some councils, it has more than doubled since 2019, an analysis has found.
A growing number of parents are now choosing home education because they feel the current school system cannot meet the needs of their children – especially those who have mental health issues or special educational needs and disabilities (Send), according to Educational Freedom.
The figures – obtained by The National using Freedom of Information requests – show that 27 out of the 30 which provided data have seen an increase in children registered for full-time home education.
READ MORE: Home education in Scotland myths debunked as figures increase
All but two councils in Scotland provided full data to The National showing the total number of children registered as being home-educated at the start of the academic year in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Several councils, 17 out of 32, also shared the number of children registered for this academic year, however this data is recorded as “so far”.
Most councils did not record the information for why a parent opted to home educate, however North Ayrshire was one which did. The area saw an increase of 125%.
Reason since 2018 included “family beliefs”, “children anxious within school setting”, “travelling community”, and “Covid pandemic”
In 2024, 14 cases were due to family beliefs, 234 cases due to “relationship with school”, and 12 cases of a child “refusing to attend school”.
The largest jump was seen in South Lanarkshire, from 56 children in 2020 to 171 children in 2024 (so far) recorded as being home educated, a 204% increase.
Council areas which saw a decrease were East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, and Moray.
North Ayrshire has the highest number of children home educated with 261 registered (so far) in 2024.
West Dunbartonshire has the lowest number of children home educated with eight registered in 2023.
Why are more families choosing to home education?
Stacy Matheson, Scottish administrator for Educational Freedom – a non-profit organisation providing home education information and support – said she sees more families choosing to home educate for philosophical reasons but also because they feel forced into it as schools fail to recognise and accommodate needs for their child.
“Many of the families we see weekly in the local home ed community have at least one neurodivergent family member who has been failed by schools,” Matheson explained.
“In particular, the popularity of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) which, although initially designed to support neurodivergent learners, causes immense trauma. The enormous growth of Facebook support groups across the UK highlights this huge problem.
“The majority of families I support locally in person and virtually through Educational Freedom are choosing home education because of school failing to either recognise neurodivergence or support it appropriately.”
Public satisfaction with local schools in Scotland hit the lowest level on record in November, with data, from the Scottish Government’s annual Scottish Household Survey, showing 80% of households with a school child are satisfied with local schools.
This is the lowest level since records began in 2007/08, and compares with a peak of 90% in 2012.
It is also a fall of 5% compared with 2022, when the figure stood at 85%, making it the largest year-on-year fall in satisfaction levels since records began.
Matheson added that many families discovered that it’s “perfectly possible” to learn and work from home during the pandemic, and that it suits their lifestyle and philosophies better than traditional schooling.
READ MORE: Think tank calls for ‘radical rethink’ of autism and ADHD services
The new Labour Government has set out plans for a Children’s Wellbeing Bill – which includes creating a legal duty on councils in England to maintain “Children Not in School” registers.
Council bosses and education unions have been calling for a register, but many home educators oppose this because they fear it may lead to greater interference.
Under the new duty, local authorities will also be required to provide support to parents who home-school their children.
When asked if Educational Freedom anticipate new home education laws or regulations in Scotland in the coming years, Matheson said: “I think this depends heavily on which party ends up in charge of Holyrood in the next election.
“Education is devolved, but if Labour take over from the SNP I can see them trying to align policies more between the UK countries, which would be very bad for home educators in Scotland.
“There has been a consultation in recent years, with all the home education organisations pushing to keep the current legislation as it remains, without government interference in family rights.
“The current system works in Scotland and we don’t see the need for further input or control. Parents are the experts in their own children and know what they need to thrive.”