Is homeschooling legal in the UK? What the law actually says

Yes. Home education is legal in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and has been for decades. The law places the duty on parents to ensure their child receives a suitable education — and explicitly allows that duty to be met 'by regular attendance at school or otherwise'. 'Otherwise' includes education at home.

What the law requires

Your child must receive an efficient, full-time education suitable to their age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs. That is the whole test. There is no requirement to follow the National Curriculum, keep school hours, use a particular approach, or have teaching qualifications.

What you do not have to do

You do not need permission from the school or the local authority to home educate (with the exceptions of special schools in England and Wales, and children already enrolled in Scotland). You do not have to register with anyone, sit inspections, or follow a set syllabus.

What the local authority can ask

If a local authority becomes aware of your child, it may make informal enquiries to check a suitable education is taking place. Most home educators respond with a short written report or a conversation about their approach. Only if the authority has genuine concerns that no suitable education is happening can it begin a formal process — and even then, you are given time and support to put things right.

Exams and qualifications

There is no legal requirement for home-educated children to take any exams. Most families choose GCSEs (or alternatives such as IGCSEs) in the teenage years, entered as private candidates. Our online GCSE classes prepare students for AQA, Pearson Edexcel and OCR specifications, with live teaching and marked homework each week.

Where to go next

If you are weighing up home education, our step-by-step guide to starting homeschooling in the UK covers deregistering, planning your week and finding community. And if you would like live teaching support, take a look at our courses and fees.