Bullying, Overcrowded Classrooms and SEND Gaps Drive UK Parents Toward Homeschooling
BULLYING, OVER-CROWDED CLASSROOMS AND INADEQUATE SPECIAL NEEDS DEPARTMENTS – A NEW STUDY REVEALS ALMOST A THIRD OF BRITISH PARENTS WOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER HOME-SCHOOLING THEIR CHILD
Almost a third (32 percent) of British parents are considering, or would strongly consider home-schooling their child, with bullying (43 percent), mental health concerns (34 percent), and very little one-to-one attention (29 percent) among the top concerns.
Classroom disruption (28 percent) and large class sizes (26 percent) are other reasons for considering opting out of the mainstream system.
The study of 2,000 British parents revealed over half (55 percent) of parents with school-aged children believe the school environment today is challenging for youngsters.
In fact, a similar number (53 percent) claim their child’s school doesn’t cater for their mental health needs, according to the research from online schooling provider, Wolsey Hall Oxford.
Worryingly, a further four in ten (38 percent) said their child has felt unsafe at school, while over a quarter (26 percent) say their state school does not have adequate facilities for pupils with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities).
The study also revealed that more than half of parents (55 percent) believe teaching methods in today’s schools are outdated.
Three quarters of parents (75 percent) say schools are failing to prepare children for real life, with 70 percent believing that the education system should teach youngsters real-life subjects like money management, as well as life skills like communication (56 percent), problem solving (54 percent) and mental health awareness (52 percent).
A further 76 percent would like to see schools offering more flexibility on where and when education is provided, with more than a half (56 percent) seeing value in their child being taught at a time that best suits them, rather than following a fixed timetable.
And two thirds (62 percent) say they would consider homeschooling if they knew it was going to give their child the best start in life, with 83 percent believing that changes in working patterns have enabled parents to fit education around working remotely.
Gavin McLean, Principal at Wolsey Hall Oxford, said: “These findings reflect a clear shift in how the parents of today’s school children view the education system, with concerns over behaviour, class sizes, and inadequate provision for students with special educational needs failing to be addressed.
“We believe learning should be flexible, supportive, and should prepare children for life – not just for exams. As more parents recognise that remote and flexible working patterns make homeschooling a realistic and appealing alternative to the classroom, it’s clear that families are seeking learning that adapts to their lives – not the other way around.
“As the world’s longest-established homeschooling provider, and the only online school where families have complete freedom over what, how, where and when their child learns – with no live lessons or set timetables – we’re uniquely placed to support parents to overcome these challenges, offering a truly personalised, world-class education that prioritises wellbeing and nurtures a lifelong love for learning at every stage. ”
For more information about Wolsey Hall Oxford, visit: wolseyhalloxford.org.uk
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