Sean Martin
July 12th, 2005, 12:42 AM
Number of children taught at home in UK soars
THE number of children taught at home has almost doubled in the past five years, a trend that experts say reflects a crisis of confidence in the state school system.
Government figures show the number of five to 16-year-olds educated at home jumped from 12,000 in 1999 to 21,000 last year. The increasing number of parents opting out of the school system reflects a similar trend in the United States, where one in 20 children is now taught at home.
Though children have to be educated, there is no legal requirement in Britain for them to attend school. The progress of children at home may be monitored at intervals by the local education authority.
Home teaching groups claim the number taught at home could soar to 150,000 by 2015, equivalent to one child in 30.
Mike Fortune-Wood, of Home Education UK, a website that provides advice on home schooling, said there was a “quiet revolution” going on. “People find that at home they can provide their children with an education far better suited to their individual needs,” he said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0%2C%2C2087-1669532%2C00.html
THE number of children taught at home has almost doubled in the past five years, a trend that experts say reflects a crisis of confidence in the state school system.
Government figures show the number of five to 16-year-olds educated at home jumped from 12,000 in 1999 to 21,000 last year. The increasing number of parents opting out of the school system reflects a similar trend in the United States, where one in 20 children is now taught at home.
Though children have to be educated, there is no legal requirement in Britain for them to attend school. The progress of children at home may be monitored at intervals by the local education authority.
Home teaching groups claim the number taught at home could soar to 150,000 by 2015, equivalent to one child in 30.
Mike Fortune-Wood, of Home Education UK, a website that provides advice on home schooling, said there was a “quiet revolution” going on. “People find that at home they can provide their children with an education far better suited to their individual needs,” he said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0%2C%2C2087-1669532%2C00.html