Imagine a summer term with no exams, no revision to force your children to
stay indoors , no dangling of Asprey carats as a reward for 11 A*s at GCSE.
For the growing number of parents who teach their children at home, part of
the pay-off for opting out of formal education is a stretch of golden
afternoons, when lessons can be taken in the garden and there are no pesky
tests to take the shine off the summer.
The novelist Michelle Magorian, who for the last nine years has taught her son
George, now 14, at the kitchen table of their home in Hampshire, freely
admits that one reason she turned her back on schooling was her alarm at the
way the system examines pupils almost to destruction.
Her decision was reinforced when teachers used to take her aside during visits
to schools to talk about her novels, and and tell her she was doing the
right thing. “They are under such pressure to teach to the tests, that they
do not have time to teach their subject properly. What is going on in these
schools?” she said.
Magorian, who was infuriated to see extracts from her novel Goodnight Mister
Tom used as an exam comprehension exercise, is not alone. As many as 50,000
children are taught at home in this country, and their number seems to have
trebled since 1999. The relief involved in escaping the pressures of both
testing and playground bullying is a constant refrain. Home-schooling, it
appears, is no longer a “hippy” option, but one pursued by otherwise
conformist middle-class families.
It’s a phenomenon that is sounding alarm bells among many, including education
expert Professor Alan Smithers of Buckingham University, who warns that some
children risk being denied social as well as educational opportunities.
While researchers say that home-schooled children are on average two years
ahead of their peers, critics claim a quarter receive an inadequate
education.
“Although some home-schooled children have excelled in one or two subjects,
with some going to Oxford as young as 12, going to school is about much more
than this,” said Smithers. “In school you discover how to rub along with
others and that you have to learn even if you don’t feel like it. That is a
basis for life.” Home-schooling, he warned, could leave children, especially
shy ones, isolated and struggling to cope as adults.
But advocates see things differently. With four children, aged two to nine
years old, Radio 2 broadcaster Janey Lee Grace and her husband Simon, a
composer, seem unlikely candidates for home-schooling. “Oddly enough, Simon
and I had both loved school, so it wasn’t as if we were set against it,”
said Lee Grace, speaking from her home in St Albans, Hert-fordshire. “We
just didn’t think it was the best option for our children.”
Five years later, and despite working three days a week co-hosting the Steve
Wright show, she still feels the same, though she almost gave up when her
fourth child, Lulu, now two, was born. “There weren’t enough hours in the
day, and I felt we needed to think about school. But Simon talked me out of
it, even cancelling the school appointments I’d made - and that was that,”
she recalled.
So what do they learn? “Lessons start promptly at 9am, with the first hour
taken up with the three Rs - reading, writing and arithmetic,” said Lee
Grace. Then it’s off to the local sports centre for a gym club, where they
meet up with other children.
“Afternoons vary between environmental studies, a ‘mad science’ session,
nature studies, folk dancing, art club and pottery.”
It sounds a little free-form - what about tests and qualifications: those bits
of paper that most of us see as a passport to a good job? Lee Grace thinks
that the benefits of avoiding the pressure of exams outweigh any
disadvantages. “We think confidence, security and happiness are of paramount
importance in the early years,” she said. “If they want to do exams later
on, they can, and most home-ed-ucated children do. Usually, they’ll focus on
one or two subjects that they excel at; having eight or nine GCSEs is
unnecessary if you know what you want to study at university.
“Universities tend to view these kids positively, in spite of their relative
lack of formal qualifications, because of their self-motivation. Often,
home-schooled kids find their ‘passion’ early and can follow it. . . they
learn in more creative, spontaneous ways.”
It may surprise many to discover that if you decide to teach your children at
home you don’t have to follow the national curriculum or put them in for Sats or GCSEs. All you have to do, according to government guide-lines
issued last year, is provide a “suitable” education that prepares your child
for life in a modern society.
It’s a definition so vague it’s almost meaningless. Although it’s the job of
local councils to protect children who may be missing out on a proper
education, they don’t have the legal powers to carry out spot checks on
homes.
Smithers thinks ministers should legislate to ensure that home schooling
regimes teach the national curriculum and are inspected just as schools are.
“Parents feel they know best but parents often have a particular view of
life. As a society we owe it to children to ensure they get the best
possible introduction to their lives,” he said.
Back in Hampshire, Magorian has no doubt that she is doing the right thing in
letting her child follow his nose. “I found I could give George the time to
pursue his interests,” she said. At the age of 11, he became fascinated by
Henry VIII: “And that led to Elizabeth I, and then I told him about an actor
who lived at the same time and wrote plays.” Before you could say Caliban,
they were on a train to the Globe theatre. “You couldn’t do that at school,”
said Magorian.
Wonderful for George, perhaps, but is his mother, like other home-schooling
parents, simply delaying that dreadful day when he will have to knuckle
down, compete with others and follow a host of new rules - however tempting
the sunshine?
The do’s and don’ts of teaching children at home
Education experts have some tips for parents who decide to turn teacher,
writes Sian Griffiths.
Firstly, says education professor Alan Smithers, do make sure your children
follow the national curriculum. Cooperate with other parents to enable them
to work and make friends with others of a similar age. Enter them for the
same tests they would have taken if they had been at school and take
advantage of the flexibility of home-schooling to go on trips.
Don’t let children learn only when they feel like it or avoid subjects they
don’t enjoy. Try to see them through a teacher’s eyes, not mum or dad’s
rose-tinted spectacles. And don’t, whatever you do, says Smithers, try to
teach them at home after the age of 11. For information and resources, visit www.education-otherwise.org.uk
or www.witsendcs.com .
You dont need to do the national curriculum. There are other alternatives to this. Im a 15yr old boy, homeschooled and working in my A2 level equivalent with a christian syllabus from Christian Education Europe(CEE). I encourage all parents to homeschool their children...the best move you can make!
Joshhy, Barkingside, UK
If it is for society to give our childrenthe best introduction to their lives, why not teach them about real life things like nutrition, how to cook not Food Technology and how to relax not stress over tests. If parents should be teaching life skills, when? In the hour between homework & bed?
Gill b, worthing, uk
homeschooling is the way forward, all school does is brainwash us and teach us what they want us to know, which is not the truth, it takes away the childs imagination and should be avoided unless of course you find a really good school, but the do seem few and far between.
Carla, Hunstanton,
"Parents have a particular view of life", I agree. Schools, of course, are totally objective in their teaching, it is in no way biased by political, religious or academic fashions or by the views held by the Head/teachers/governors - don't think so really.
Gill b, worthing, uk
I find it laughable that all the examples given of home ed in this article are so glowing and yet the 'Do's and dont's' section tells us basically 'Dont' do anything that will make us (the schools) look bad!' Like teaching a broad balanced curriculum instead of the National curriculum!
Deborah, Retford, Notts
Couldn't a real professor be found? I don't think many would accept the commercial pretender of a university , Buckingham, to pass for anything other than a money spinner. If the the National Curriculum is so wonderful why are scores of teachers deciding to home educate their own children?
Antonia, Doncaster,
So what happened to ubiased reporting? or factual reporting? Or attributing statistics to traceable sources? I strongly suspect the 25% not recieving and adequate education figure comes from an inspector based in London, who has been soundly discredited.
J Impey, Hayes, UK
You sould make clear that your list of 'do's and d=on'ts' are based on a hostile persons very biased oppinion, rather than the law! Your article is misleading and inaccurate!
J Impey, Hayes, UK
Surely misquoting celebrities, who are very vocal in the HE community is a bad idea? By misrepresenting the people you claim to qupte you demontrate the very reasons that many refuse to engage with your reporters.
J Impey, Hayes, UK
"says education professor Alan Smithers, do make sure your children follow the national curriculum. Enter them for the same tests they would have taken if they had been at school "
Why? Most teachers say the NC & SATS are the worst reforms brought upon state schools, teachers and pupils ever.
amanda, Dorking, UK
I'd like to know what makes following the national curriculum so important, as though it's some holy grail of education. I was a teacher when the national curriculum first came in and most teachers I knew were up in arms at how narrow it was. And why not home educate after 11+? Complete nonsense.
Sarah, Chichester, England
Prof Smithers has such a limited view of education. Home education opens the door to all sorts of educational possibilities. He implies that our school system, NC, SATS is the best possible education - surely a prof of education has the interest, time and motivation to think of something better?
Suzie, Manchester, UK
Professor Alan Smithers has, as far as I can tell, done absolutely no professional research into home education, and is operating entirely on misinformation and prejudice, as is his usual MO. I'm astonished to see a link to education otherwise at the end of this nonsense.
Peter Darby, Ruthin, Wales
We'll send our 11+ children into a place that is overcrowded, pressurized, competitive and unprotected from the mental and physical harm from bullying but how much can our children actually learn in this environment and what are they learning about society?
Mary , Ivybridge, UK
My elder son was home educated all his life. He is just finishing a degree in computing and maths at Imperial College. He was allowed to follow his own interests as is his younger brother and neither parent has expertise in maths. His only concern is that the course is not challenging enough!!!
Pam, Cheltenham, UK
If I wanted to get advice on Home education I would meet parents who acctually do it and get in touch with home education organisations like education otherwise. People with knowledge and a wealth of experience who genuinely care about children.
Helen, Gloucester,
My home educated children over 11 and learning beautifully thank you, Mr. Smithers. My eldest is deeply into Japanese which she wouldn't be taking if she followed the National Curriculum.
You obviously know nothing about home education. Please do some basic research before you hand out 'advice.'
Diane V, Newcastle, UK
Jenny of Reading:
God help Britiish home schooling families if education authorities gain sway & power over them.
Do you know what happened in Canada & the U.S. when school boards took home schoolers to court? The home schoolers won - over & over again. Their kids did better by every measure.
Yetta, Surrey, England
I see no proof that school 'prepares kids for life in modern society it does.Nor that it produces happy, sociable, sucessful, educated children at the end.
We removed our desperately unhappy , overtested children 12 mths ago and thats what we now have! Prof smithers needs to do some research!
Jenny Griffiths, Cardiff, UK
The school system failed our son, had he remained after 11 he would have been turned off learning for life. Autonomous learning alongside structured learning, with social interation in the local community as resulted in an enjoyable childhood, with sufficient qualifications for higher education.
Liz Jolly, Fareham, UK
I think that some parents do a great job in educating their children but unfortunately some do not. I think that Education Authorities should have greater powers to ensure that parents are providing an adequate education.
Jenny, Reading,
Avoiding the national curriculum is why many families choose to home educate in the first place. We value curiosity and enquiry over testing and coercion.
We don't need a 'definition' of education handed to us by self-appointed experts, thank you: we create and discover it for ourselves.
Tom, Bristol,
Our 4 HE'ed daughters are bright, interested, sociable, articulate, friendly, thoughtful and more than capable of working in a group. We don't harrow them to a frenzy with things they are not ready for, so they don't have "hated" subjects; everything is just an opportunity to discover something new.
Merry Raymond, Peterborough, Cambs
Are Alan Smithers' opinions backed up by facts and research? My home-educated-from-birth 16yo is currently on her second OU course, a Level 2 English course. She intends to do two more OU courses and then apply to a bricks-and-mortar university to do law. Is this a problem, Professor Smithers?
Shena, Swindon,
It seriously worries me this man can be called an 'expert' when he clearly knows very little about the way children (or anyone for that matter) learn.
I've only read a few good books with undeniable arguments to understand that.
Amy, Stanley, Durham
Has Professor Alan Smithers ever worked in the 'real world'? because school is certainly no preparation for it. I've never worked with 29 other people the same age, being forced to do a mix of things I hated. If my boss was a bully I could go to HR or quit. I got PAID too. NOTHING like school.
Ruth, Godalming, UK
Home Education is NOT home schooling. Schooling is the one thing that parents avoid when they educate their own children. You seem to have sought-out some strange people to write this item, who seem to have little idea of how education takes place at home. I suggest you have another go. Try the Education Otherwise website, and work from there.
Bryan Lawrence, Gosport , UK
Is sending them to school a wise move for children?
More and more teachers (including hubby and myself) are opting to home educate their children.
The professor's opinion assumes that we already have a successful education system that doesn't fail a single child!
Is this true?
Beckie, Spalding, UK
Niall Ferguson, Harvard & Oxford professor, May 13, in this newspaper:
"The English education system has become 'fatally distorted' by an unhealthy fixation with an anachronistic exam system that ill prepares students for university."
Why meddle& inflict proven bad practise on home schoolers?
Yetta, Surrey, England
If you want to know what home ed does for children, read the real research - starting with Rothermel's paper of 2002. Meanwhile, don't let the scaremongers put you off. If you follow the exact reverse of Smithers' advice (besides meeting other home eddors and going on trips) you'll do just fine.
Heidi, Chippenham, England
Smithers has never had a proper job in his life. Of course he does hot want people to spoil his cushy educational gravy train career by showing schooling to be the sham that it patently is.
Give your children a life - get them out of school.
Duncan Moran, Moreton In Marsh,
Following the Nat. Curriculum. would only ensure our children received the same sub-standard education as given by schools. we want better for them - that is why we home educate.
As for social skiils - children should be individuals not just playground clones trying to 'be in with the in crowd'.
Sarah, Leeds, England
Only 25% "receive an inadequate education"!! A tad better than the national average I would hazard a guess.
"a “suitable” education that prepares your child for life in a modern society." far from being "so vague it’s almost meaningless" makes perfect sense.
Smithers comes over as a stooge.
Malc Dow, Berlin, Germany
"The aim of public education is not to spread enlightenment at all; it is simply to reduce as many individuals as possible to the same safe level, to breed a standard citizenry, to put down dissent and originality." (H L Mencken) Fortunately some parents realise this and are doing something about it
Wendy, Scottish Borders,
"While researchers say that home-schooled children are on average two years ahead of their peers, critics claim a quarter receive an inadequate education." Obviously the article is from the point of view of the critics rather than those who have researched the issue.
Lindsay, Lincoln,
"Don't, whatever you do... try to teach [your children] at home after the age of 11."
I was home-schooled through high school (18 years old), and just graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's in engineering physics. Therefore I wonder what the problem would be with teaching older children.
Peter, Green Bay, WI
I contemplated home education for my son before he started his high achieving primary school in Worcester. I even visited a homeschooling group in Ronkswood and met a great group of kids. During term time he loses his sparkle and creativity. I would home educate in a second if my husband agreed.
louise, rubery, uk