As someone who has worked as a private tutor and teacher for many years, I often get asked about the pros and cons of homeschooling and whether it’s the right choice for students who are struggling.
If you’ve only ever experienced the traditional school system, it’s easy to see why homeschooling comes with many misconceptions.
People often picture a lonely child sitting at home, without friends, and missing out on social skills. There’s also the concern of how these children will handle university or a job later on if they haven’t had the chance to build resilience and learn from social situations at a young age. But then came the 2020 lockdown, and everything changed.
Schools, universities, and even businesses were forced to adapt and become flexible. This shift led to more workplaces offering remote work, flexible hours, and online roles. Families started to see learning differently, and this new perspective has sparked a change in public opinion. Suddenly, homeschooling—something that all children in the UK experienced in some form during the lockdown—became a familiar and more accepted choice.
A BBC report from June 2024 found that applications for home education went up by 22% in 2022-2023. That’s a big jump, and it meant that by the Autumn term of 2023, about 92,000 children were being homeschooled. Let’s think about that for a second — 92,000 children learning at home instead of attending school.
So, what’s driving this change? Why are more families turning to homeschooling as the best option for their children’s future?
When I talk to families and students—especially those who are neurodivergent or have special needs—there’s one word that comes up time and time again: happiness.
School can be tough. Most of us know that. But it’s not just about difficult homework or tests. Kids face pressures that come from who they are, where they come from, their strengths, and their interests. Sadly, many children feel that they can’t truly be themselves in school, struggling with strict rules about what to wear, how to act, when to study, and even when to eat.
Years ago, a family told me their autistic child struggled so much with the itchiness and discomfort of the school uniform that they refused to go to school, leaving the parents at a loss at what to do. They didn’t realise until much later that it was the uniform that was causing this anxiety. After several meetings and coming to this realisation, the school finally allowed the child to wear the PE kit, consisting of a sweatshirt and joggers. The change in the child was astounding. Funny how feeling seen and heard can spark cooperation. And let’s be honest, school uniforms are more about the school’s image than student well-being or comfort.
Now, I’m not saying that structure, routines, uniformity or schedules are bad. They can be important. But expecting five-year-olds to follow a strict school schedule—after they’ve only known a life full of play, creativity, and freedom—might be a tad unrealistic. Perhaps even a bit harsh.
And then there are the other pressures: bullying, competition, social rules, being able to read and write fluently, sitting still, paying attention, and a long list of school rules that can make young people feel anxious about small mistakes. (The other day, a student told me that his friend got in trouble for leaning back in his chair).
If a child falls behind or finds things harder than their peers, it can make them feel like they’re not good enough.
For children who are neurodivergent, have special needs or physical disabilities, these challenges can be even more significant. Long NHS waiting lists and overwhelmed local authorities mean many students go undiagnosed, so their physical and emotional needs can go unmet for years.
Exams and tests are another big source of stress. From the year 1 phonics screener to GCSEs and A levels, the pressure starts early. At this age, children develop at different rates, and this plays a huge role in how they learn and understand things. Expecting all children to be at the same level at the same time is a bit like testing babies on when they can walk, crawl, or wean—something we would never do.
Some do well in test settings, but others find them hard, even if they are smart and capable. This feels unfair, especially for children who are great at hands-on activities but struggle to sit at a desk for an hour and a half to finish an exam.
Traditional tests don’t always show what these children are good at and can leave them feeling frustrated and upset. The pressure to do well adds even more stress to what is already challenging about school.
I had a student last year who had failed his maths GCSE twice. He had been diagnosed with dyslexia and struggled with his short-term working memory. A pass in maths was his only requirement to be accepted into his dream college which had offered him a scholarship to play rugby. He was an exceptional rugby player and already played for two different teams. He was committed and dedicated to a career of playing professionally which was clearly where he excelled. However, due to his maths result, he was rejected from this college. He had already started his pre-season training before his results had come out, which as you can imagine, was heart-breaking for him. He was forced to leave without even being given a chance.
Given all these challenges, it’s no wonder more families are choosing to homeschool. The daily stress over school uniforms, homework, exams, revision, early mornings, and subjects they don’t like, along with the constant communication between teachers and parents, can push anyone to reconsider if school is worth it. Each year, as school becomes more demanding and schools focus on meeting targets, the stress just grows.
Childhood shouldn’t be all about stress and struggle. It should be filled with joy, creativity, and the freedom to explore. Kids should have the chance to discover what they love and learn in a way that fuels their passion.
One of my students who switched to homeschooling when entering her GCSE years has never looked back. She struggled with social anxiety and did not like her teachers. She loved English, history and drama but had no interest in the texts and topics that the school were forcing on her. When I started sessions with her, she told me exactly what interested and we merged history, English and drama into a bespoke lesson plan that fuelled her passion, and it was a delight to see her love for learning come to life so vividly in front of my eyes.
As more families rethink the traditional school system and consider homeschooling, we have to wonder: are we witnessing the start of a bigger shift in how we think about education and childhood?
If happiness, personalised learning, and freedom are becoming what more families value, how far are we willing to go to redefine what school should look like?
Or maybe the real question is: if children could choose, what kind of education would they pick for themselves?
Sources:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg3382380vko
https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/elective-home-education
https://research.com/education/benefits-and-disadvantages-of-homeschooling
The Call of the Wild and Free by Ainsley Arment
