Home education is legal in England, and a growing number of families choose it. For some it's a positive choice from the start; for others it follows a child's anxiety, health needs or a school that isn't working for them. Whatever your reasons, this guide explains what the law requires, how to take your child out of school and how to give them a structured, ambitious education at home.
What the law says
Under section 7 of the Education Act 1996, parents of a child of compulsory school age must make sure the child receives an efficient, full-time education suitable to their age, ability and aptitude, and to any special educational needs they may have, "either by regular attendance at school or otherwise".
That word "otherwise" is what makes home education legal. There is no requirement to follow the National Curriculum, to keep school hours or to hold a teaching qualification. Families do, however, take on the full cost of their child's education, including resources, tutors and exam fees.
Taking your child out of school
If your child attends a mainstream school, tell the school in writing that you are going to educate your child at home. When you are taking your child out completely, the school must remove them from its roll, and it will let your local authority know. You don't need the council's permission, even if your child has an education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Some children need the council's consent before they can be home educated — for example, children who attend a special school.
Flexi-schooling, where a child is at school for part of the week and home educated for the rest, is only possible if the school agrees.
The council's role
Local authorities can make informal enquiries to check that a child is receiving a suitable education. Many will ask for a written description of your approach, or offer a meeting or home visit. You don't have to accept a home visit, but you do need to be able to show that your child is receiving a suitable education. If it appears that they are not, the council can serve a school attendance order.
Keeping a simple record — a learning plan, examples of your child's work and brief notes on their progress — makes these conversations straightforward, and it's useful for you too.
Planning a suitable education
The law doesn't define "suitable" in detail, which gives families real freedom. A strong plan usually covers:
- Core skills: reading, writing and maths, at the right level for your child.
- Breadth: science, history, geography, languages, the arts and physical activity.
- Structure: a weekly rhythm that suits your family, with clear goals for each term.
- Time with other children: clubs, sport, home-education groups and shared activities.
- A route to qualifications: if your child will sit GCSEs or A-Levels, plan backwards from the exams.
Many families build their plan around the British curriculum — not because they must, but because it keeps the route to GCSEs and A-Levels clear, and it makes returning to school easier if that's ever the right choice.
Sitting exams as a private candidate
Home-educated students can take GCSEs, International GCSEs and A-Levels as private candidates. In practice, that means:
- Choosing subjects and specifications. Many home-educated students take International GCSEs, offered by exam boards such as Pearson Edexcel and Cambridge, because they generally have fewer coursework requirements. Our guide to IGCSE vs GCSE explains the differences.
- Finding an exam centre that accepts private candidates. Not every school or college does, and fees vary between centres.
- Entering early. Entry deadlines fall months before the exams — for the summer series, usually around February — and centres often set their own earlier deadlines.
- Planning any practical or spoken components. Some qualifications, such as A-Level sciences, include practical work that must be assessed by a centre, so this needs arranging well in advance.
Getting support
You don't have to do everything yourself. Many families combine their own teaching with:
- specialist tutors for subjects they would rather not teach, particularly at GCSE and A-Level;
- structured online courses and good-quality resources;
- local home-education groups for friendship and shared activities;
- an education consultant to plan the curriculum, choose qualifications and keep everything on track.
How we can help
Our home education service gives families a clear British-curriculum plan, specialist tutors where they add most value, and guidance on entering GCSEs and A-Levels as a private candidate — with a dedicated consultant alongside you throughout.
For official guidance, see Educating your child at home on GOV.UK, your local authority's home education pages, and the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026.