Can You Homeschool In Scotland?

Homeschooling has never been more popular than it is today, and Scotland has the highest percentage of homeschoolers in the UK by far. Are you considering homeschooling your child? Do you want to know if you can homeschool in Scotland? Well, read on, because there are several pieces of information about Scottish law that will help you make an informed decision

Can You Homeschool Your Child In Scotland?

In Scotland, you can homeschool your child with the approval of their Local Authority. The Local Authority will need to be satisfied that there is a suitable education plan in place for the child’s learning needs.

For example, if you choose to home-school your child because they have special educational needs then the Local Authority may not approve your application as this is unlikely to meet their assessment criteria.

The best advice to be given is that, if you want to home-school your child in Scotland, you should contact your Local Authority and discuss it with them first. This will enable you to have a full understanding of what is required of you and give them an insight into why you feel homeschooling would suit your child.

Is Homeschooling Legal In Scotland?

Homeschooling is legal in Scotland, but the law is complex and changes all the time. There are many factors to consider before you make any decision. First, you should know that there is no such thing as non-state education in Scotland. The schools are either state-funded or independent.

There are no laws that prohibit homeschooling in Scotland. However, in 2010, a new education bill was enacted, making it illegal for parents to withdraw their children from school without the head teacher’s approval.

This law was created to combat truancy and remove barriers for children who need special support.

If you plan to home-school in Scotland, you must ensure that your child is receiving a suitable education. The law requires that all children receive at least 270 days of education per year, but provides some flexibility for families with special circumstances.

How Do I Homeschool My Child In Scotland?

Scotland has a strong focus on moral education and teaching their children about the way the world works. Homeschooling in Scotland is done in some cases but is not a common practice.

The first thing to do is contact your local school board, which will tell you how homeschooling can be done in Scotland. This will often involve registering with your school board and meeting with them regularly for assessment.

The government of Scotland states that certain aspects of education must be taught by a qualified teacher and you may not be able to teach these topics in your home if it is not part of Scottish law.

While homeschooling is rarely done in Scotland, there are many resources available for learning how to teach your child at home. When you do so, it’s important to find a strong relationship with your local school board because you will have to prove that your child is learning what they need in life and becoming properly educated. If everything checks out, you can begin homeschooling.

Home Education Laws in Scotland

In Scotland, the law does not state anything about the curriculum for home-educated children and there is no prescribed syllabus to be followed. Under Section 7 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, parents are not allowed to withdraw their child from school without consultation with the head teacher, council education committee, and any other local authorities that may have contributed to funding their schooling up until that point.

These arrangements must include reasons why the parents wish to remove their child and what alternative provisions will be made about their education. There is no formal system for monitoring home-educated children in Scotland, although a Local Authority Education Welfare Officer may visit to satisfy themselves that there is suitable provision for education.

However, it is not compulsory to allow them access or provide information about your child’s progress.

How Many Children Are Homeschooled In Scotland?

In Scotland, the percentage of homeschooled children is unknown. This data is not collected by either the Scottish Parliament or the National Records of Scotland. No comparable survey exists. The most recent government statistics (National Census) place it at less than 1%. However, many people have chosen to homeschool their children in Scotland, with some formalizing their teaching plans with private tutors or using a modified curriculum approved by the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Scotland ranks number one in the world for the percentage of children who are homeschooled. While there is a long history of homeschooling in Scotland, parents began to be interested in it again during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

There were two reasons that this came about. First, Scotland began to become an independent country and many Scots were unhappy with what they felt was interference from the British Government on their behalf.

Second, parents had become dissatisfied with what they considered to be a poor and boring education system.

Many parents had come to believe that learning was best for children in an environment where it could be tailored to their interests and that homeschooling allowed for more freedom to learn from different areas of study.

How Do Homeschoolers Take Exams in Scotland?

Homeschoolers in Scotland have the option of completing their education through the Standard Graded Exams or the Foundation Level Examination Board. The British government states that students taking Standard Graded Exams must be homeschooled for at least three years before enrolling in exams, and no longer than twelve.

Homeschoolers taking Foundation Level Exams are allowed to take them with only one year of homeschooling completed.

While students are required to take standard graded exams, they can elect to take other tests, including Scottish Qualifications Authority assessments, International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), and Advanced Level General Certificate of Education (A-Levels).

These tests can provide homeschooled students with more educational opportunities as well as a broader range of subjects to choose from.