Your Legal Rights
Home education is entirely legal across the UK. Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 places the duty of education on parents, not schools. It states that parents must ensure their child receives "efficient full-time education suitable to his age, ability and aptitude, and to any special educational needs he may have" - either by regular attendance at school or "otherwise". That "otherwise" is where home education sits.
You do not need permission from anyone to home educate. You don't need qualifications. You don't need to follow the national curriculum, keep school hours, mark work, or teach in any particular way. The law is deliberately broad, reflecting the principle that parents know their children best and should have freedom in how they educate them.
The local authority does have a role, however. If a child is known to be home educated, the council may make "informal enquiries" to establish that the child is receiving suitable education. If they have reason to believe the education is not suitable, they can issue a School Attendance Order requiring the child to be enrolled at a named school. In practice, most councils are supportive of home education and issues only arise in a small minority of cases.
Important: The government introduced a register of children not in school through the Children Not in School measures. Local authorities now maintain registers of home educated children. Registration is compulsory but does not change your right to home educate - it simply ensures the council knows the child exists and is being educated.
How to Deregister from School
If your child is currently at school, deregistering is straightforward. You write a letter to the headteacher informing them that you are withdrawing your child to provide education at home. The school must remove your child from the roll - they cannot refuse, and they should not try to delay. There is no notice period in law, though giving a few days is courteous.
There are two exceptions. If your child attends a special school (one designated for children with SEN), you need the local authority's consent before deregistering - though this consent cannot be unreasonably withheld. And if your child is the subject of a School Attendance Order, you would need to demonstrate suitable alternative education before they can be removed from the school's roll.
It's worth noting that the school will notify the local authority when they remove your child from the roll. This is standard procedure. The council may then contact you to introduce their elective home education team and offer support. Some councils are more proactive about this than others. You are not obliged to accept visits, but maintaining a constructive relationship is generally advisable.
Education in Practice
Home education looks different in every family, and that's the point. Some families follow a structured approach, using textbooks, online courses, and a timetable that mirrors school hours. Others adopt a more child-led philosophy - sometimes called unschooling - where learning emerges from the child's interests and everyday life. Most families end up somewhere in between, blending structure with flexibility.
Resources are more abundant than ever. Online platforms like BBC Bitesize, Khan Academy, Oak National Academy, and Twinkl provide free or low-cost curriculum materials. Libraries are invaluable. Museums, galleries, nature reserves, and heritage sites offer educational visits - many free for children. Some home educating families form cooperatives, meeting regularly to share teaching, socialisation, and resources.
Socialisation is the question that comes up most often, and it's a fair one. Children who are home educated miss out on the daily social environment of school. However, most home education communities have thriving social networks - regular meetups, group activities, sports clubs, and shared lessons. Many home educated children also attend cubs, scouts, dance classes, music groups, and other activities alongside school-attending children.
Sitting Exams and Returning to School
Home educated children can sit GCSEs and other qualifications as private candidates. This requires finding an exam centre willing to accept external entries - some schools and colleges do this, and there are private exam centres. You'll need to register in advance (often by October for May/June exams) and pay entry fees yourself, typically £30-100 per subject depending on the exam board.
Subjects with practical components - such as Science, Art, Food Technology, and Design Technology - can be harder to arrange, because they require supervised practical assessments and specialist facilities. IGCSEs (international GCSEs) are popular with home educators because they're often assessed entirely by exam, without coursework or practical components.
Returning to school is always an option. There is no barrier to re-enrolling a home educated child at a state school, subject to places being available. If you apply for a school place and it's full, the same admissions and appeals process applies as for any other child. Some children transition back into school smoothly; others find the adjustment challenging after a period of home education. Year 10 - the start of GCSE courses - is a natural transition point if your child wants formal qualifications in a school setting.
Note: This guide covers home education law and practice across the UK. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have different legal frameworks. For detailed legal guidance, GOV.UK and Education Otherwise are excellent starting points.