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Home Schooling v’s Home Educating
They're the same thing, right? Wrong!
If you’re reading this, you’re probably wondering: “Are home educating and home schooling the same thing?”
Short answer: they’re often used interchangeably in the UK, but for most families they mean slightly different approaches to learning at home.
In the UK, whether you call it home schooling or home educating, the law treats them the same:
You’re responsible for giving your child a full-time education suitable to their age, ability, and aptitude —
but there’s no prescribed curriculum you must follow.
Home Schooling
Home schooling is a form of elective home education where parents choose to replicate a traditional school-style education at home.
It is typically parent-led, structured, and timetable-based, with learning organised in a similar way to a mainstream school day.
traditional / school-style / structured / timetable-based
Home Educating
Home educating is a form of elective home education that focuses on flexible, personalised learning, rather than replicating a traditional school environment.
It is usually less structured than home schooling and allows education to be shaped around the child’s interests, pace, learning style and wellbeing.
flexible / personalised / less structured / customised to child
What's the same...legally?
No matter which term you use:
From age 5, children must receive a suitable full-time education.
You don’t have to follow the national curriculum.
You don’t need formal qualifications to teach your own child.
You don’t officially register as a home educator with the local authority in England, Scotland or Wales
(though schools do need to be informed that you’re removing your child).
Local authorities may check that the education is suitable if they have concerns.
The big thing parents must understand: you are legally responsible for that education and making sure your child continues to learn and thrive.
The Pros
✔ Tailored learning
You can adapt teaching to your child’s interests, pace, strengths and challenges.
✔ Flexibility
No rigid timetable — great for travel, health challenges, or family life.
✔ Child-centred
Some kids thrive when learning hands-on or in ways school can’t offer.
✔ Close family bonds
You’ll spend loads of quality time together.
The Cons
Massive Time Commitment
You are the teacher, planner, tutor, school office and sometimes even counsellor — it’s a lot.
Curriculum Knowledge
You don’t need a degree, but you do need to feel confident enough to help with key subjects or find resources.
Socialisation
Not automatic like school — you’ll need to arrange clubs, meetups or groups to give your child plenty of peer contact.
Little Formal Oversight
That’s good for freedom, but you need self-discipline and organisation — no one else is checking your lesson plans.
Why choose this less conventional route then?
Over the past few years, home education has been rising sharply across the UK:
In England alone:
Around 111,700 children were being home educated in autumn 2024, up more than 20% from the year before.
The trend shows an ongoing increase, with hundreds of local authorities reporting more families opting out of school.
So what’s driving this?
Parents increasingly cite concerns about school not meeting their child’s emotional or mental health needs.
Many families feel mainstream schools aren’t supporting children with additional needs such as autism or SEND — and choose home education instead.
Other reasons include dissatisfaction with school, bullying, lifestyle preferences, or philosophical beliefs about education — though the “official” reasons aren’t always clear in local data.