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Homeschooling is legal across the UK. Education is compulsory; school is not. In the 2024/2025 academic year, 175,900 children in England were recorded as electively home educated, a 15% increase from the previous year. The rules differ between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This guide covers the legal framework, how to start, curriculum options and costs.
Yes. Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 places the duty on parents to ensure their child receives "efficient full-time education suitable to his age, ability and aptitude, and to any special educational needs he may have." That education can happen at school or "otherwise." The word "otherwise" is what gives UK parents the legal right to home educate.
You do not need to follow the National Curriculum. You do not need teaching qualifications. You do not need to replicate a school timetable. The law requires a suitable education, not a school-shaped one.
The rules differ across the four UK nations. Here is what applies in each.
No registration is required if your child has never attended school. If your child is currently enrolled, you must write to the headteacher requesting that the child's name be removed from the school roll. The school must comply (unless the child is subject to a School Attendance Order). Your local authority may make informal enquiries to satisfy itself that your child is receiving a suitable education, but it has no automatic right to enter your home or see your child.
If your child has attended a local authority school, you need consent from the local authority to withdraw them. This is the key difference from England. If the child has never attended a public school, or attended only an independent school, no consent is needed. The Education (Scotland) Act 1980 governs this. Home education in Scotland is overseen by the local authority, which may request evidence that education is being provided.
The framework mirrors England. You write to the headteacher to deregister. Welsh local authorities maintain a database of home-educated children and will make contact as a standard part of the process. The Welsh government emphasises "efficient and full-time" education, but this does not mean replicating school hours. It means consistent education across a broad range of experiences appropriate to the child's development.
Parents must ensure their child receives "efficient full-time education" under the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986. If your child is enrolled in a school, you write to the principal to deregister. The Education Authority (EA) may ask for information about your educational provision. You can respond with a descriptive report rather than formal lesson plans.
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill. This Bill, progressing through Parliament in 2025/2026, proposes a mandatory register of all home-educated children in England. The Lords completed Report Stage in January 2026. If enacted, it would require families to register with their local authority and would give councils the power to request a meeting within 15 days. It would not change the fundamental right to home educate, and it would not give authorities new powers over curriculum content. Secondary legislation and guidance would need to be drafted and consulted on before any requirements take effect. Check Parliament's tracker for the latest status.
The process depends on whether your child is currently enrolled in a school.
Write to the headteacher (or principal, in Northern Ireland) stating your intention to withdraw your child for home education. In England and Wales, the school must remove the child from its roll. In Scotland, you need local authority consent first. Keep a copy of your letter. The school will notify the local authority, which may then contact you.
In England, you are not legally required to inform anyone. You can simply begin educating your child at home. In practice, some families choose to notify their local authority voluntarily. In Scotland, the same applies if the child has never attended a public school.
You are not required to follow the National Curriculum. Most home-educating families in the UK choose from International GCSEs and A-Levels (Cambridge* or Pearson Edexcel), the National Curriculum delivered through a tutor or resource provider, or a bespoke approach mixing resources around the child's interests. If you enrol with an online school like CambriLearn, the school provides the curriculum, teaching, materials and assessment.
Your child needs a quiet workspace and a reliable internet connection if using an online provider. There is no legal requirement for a dedicated room or specialised equipment. If you are using an online school, the school provides the timetable, lesson materials and teacher support. If you are teaching independently, you will need to source textbooks and plan your own assessment schedule.
Local authority visits. If your local authority contacts you, you can respond in writing with a description of your educational provision. You are not required to allow a home visit, provide lesson plans, or show your child's work. Many families choose to engage cooperatively, but the legal position in England and Wales is clear: the burden is on the local authority to show evidence that a suitable education is not being provided, not on you to prove that it is.
UK families can choose any curriculum. You are not restricted to the National Curriculum. The qualification your child earns determines which universities and employers will recognise it.
| Curriculum | Qualification | Exam Body | UK University Admission | International Recognition | Via CambriLearn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge Int.* | Int. GCSE, AS, A-Level | Cambridge Assessment | Accepted by all UK universities via UCAS | 160+ countries | Yes, private candidate exams |
| Pearson Edexcel | Int. GCSE, Int. A-Level | Pearson | Accepted by all UK universities via UCAS | 80+ countries | Yes, accredited centre |
| National Curriculum | GCSE, A-Level | AQA, OCR, Pearson, Eduqas | Standard UK route | Varies | No |
| US K-12 | US High School Diploma | Cognia | Via UCAS (with additional evidence) | US, NCAA approved | Yes, Cognia accredited |
| CAPS | NSC matric | SACAI | Via UCAS equivalency | South Africa, select international | Yes, billed in ZAR |
Sitting exams as a private candidate. Home-educated students in the UK sit GCSEs, International GCSEs, and A-Levels as private candidates at registered exam centres. You contact the exam centre directly to register, typically by October for summer exams. International GCSE (Cambridge and Edexcel) syllabuses are designed for external candidates and do not require coursework, which makes them a practical choice for home educators. National Curriculum GCSEs from AQA or OCR sometimes include compulsory coursework or practicals, which can be harder to arrange externally.
CambriLearn prepares students for Cambridge* examinations as private candidates and holds accredited centre status for Pearson Edexcel. For a detailed comparison of how each pathway leads to UK university admission via UCAS, see the A-Levels page.
