The number of children being homeschooled in England has jumped by more than 13% in just one term, according to new figures released by the Department for Education (DfE).
This surge has prompted education campaigners to demand government action, amid concerns that some children are missing out on quality education and socialisation.
The DfE report revealed that around a quarter of parents who are homeschooling their children cited "lifestyle choice" or "philosophical or preferential reasons" as their primary motivation. This is an increase from the start of the school year, when fewer than one in five parents gave these reasons.
The homeschooling trend has been intensifying since the COVID-19 pandemic forced parents to teach their children at home for extended periods. This has led to concerns that some children are not receiving a quality education or missing out on important social development opportunities.
"I think it is a surge — these numbers have skyrocketed over the last seven or eight years," said Anne Longfield, the former children's commissioner who now chairs the Centre for Young Lives think-tank. She told BBC radio that the government needs to take action to ensure that all homeschooled children are receiving a good education and are not being socially isolated.
Education campaigners have echoed Longfield's calls for government intervention. They argue that the DfE needs to do more to monitor the quality of education provided by homeschooling families and to ensure that these children are not falling behind their peers in terms of social development.
The government has said that it is aware of the concerns about homeschooling and that it is keeping the situation under review. However, it has also stressed that parents have the right to homeschool their children if they wish to do so.
The debate over homeschooling is likely to continue, as the number of children being educated at home continues to rise. It is a complex issue with no easy answers, and it is important to weigh the potential benefits of homeschooling against the potential risks.
