Does my child have to go to school?

[raymondo59]

Hi,could you direct me to the 'laws' requiring all children to be educated?Thanks

[seduraed]

Re: Does my child have to go to school?

I'm sure a more knowledgeable people will be along but I think the 1944 education act is probabally the most important . It is legal to home educate a child but in the generality school is better . Why don't you want your child to go to school ?

[CleverClogs]

Re: Does my child have to go to school?

Why don't you want your child to go to school ?

It seems quite reasonable to me.

Not only does the dreadful Michael Gove wish to meddle interminably, one's child might be taught heresies such as the Earth revolving round the Sun.

[Amethyst]

Re: Does my child have to go to school?

You want section 7 of the Education Act 1996 - http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/56/section/7 - I believe

Duty of parents to secure education of children of compulsory school age.

The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him to receive efficient full-time education suitable—

(a)to his age, ability and aptitude, and

(b)to any special educational needs he may have,

either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.

ie. They must be educated but this need not be in a formal school environment

There are networks of home schoolers across England. (this may be a good place to start http://www.educationotherwise.net/ )

https://www.gov.uk/home-education

You can teach your child at home, full or part-time (‘home schooling’) - but tell the school and your local council if you’re taking them out of school.

As a parent, you must make sure your child receives a full-time education from the age of 5 but you don’t have to follow the national curriculum.
Telling the council

You only need to tell the council if you’re taking your child out of a special school.
If the council wants to check on your child’s education

The council can make an ‘informal enquiry’ if you’re educating your child at home, to make sure they’re getting a suitable education. If the council thinks your child isn’t receiving a suitable education, they might serve a school attendance order.

You can get help with home education from your local council.
Telling the school

If you’re taking your child out of school, you must write to the head teacher. You can ask the school to teach your child part-time, but the school doesn’t have to accept your request.

Not sure if that answers your question as you main query was about attending school, and your second query was about education....the answer is School...No, Education....Yes.

[des8]

Re: Does my child have to go to school?

[QUOTE=seduraed;407481] but in the generality school is better .

Always concerned when the argument of "generality" is used in any discussion. Is this arguing from the specific to the general? What data do you have to support such a sweeping assertion?

Only asking because although all eight of my children attended school, I have several friends who home educated their children, without any apparent detriment to their education.

In truth I can see those children had a more settled & contented life when growing up as they avoided the bullying which seems endemic in school life.

It is often levelled against home educators that they "over protect" their children and deny them the "normal" social life: on the contrary however home educators and are in a better position than school teachers to guide & care for their children, and to ensure their social life is full and wholesome.

[enquirer]

Re: Does my child have to go to school?

Local Authorities will go to extreme lengths to obstruct parents who wish to Home School. The assistance of a network of like minded people is essential.

Follow the link given by Amethyst.

[raymondo59]

Re: Does my child have to go to school?

The sexual predators are often found lurking behind 'moral jobs',priest,vicar,childcare worker etc.I just have this deep feeling of guilt when I look at my child leaving in the morning(when he's just about managed to be hungry to eat)for nine hours with a person I know very little about to receive his daily dose of state pro-gramming.It doesn't feel natural:tinysmile_cry_t:

[raymondo59]

Re: Does my child have to go to school?

I would like to swap 'education' for 'knowledge'

[enquirer]

Re: Does my child have to go to school?

Or 'education' for 'brainwashing'.

[Kati]

Re: Does my child have to go to school?

I home-educate my two teenage boys. They were taken out of school where we used to live after appalling bullying from students and teachers alike (long story). When we moved to Co. Durham, we made the decision to continue with the HE, and were contacted by the local Education Authority who wanted to know why our 'school age' children were not in school. After sending them a copy of our educational philosophy the lady was happy for us to carry on as we were. I was told that we would be contacted again after a year to ascertain if our decision was to stay the same.

While, for many, the education system is a good way for our younger generation to learn the skills they will need as adults, the 'Education Otherwise' route is just as valid and (for many home educators) much more rewarding.

:whoo:

[Johnboy007]

Re: Does my child have to go to school?

If your child doesn't go to school, don't worry.........
They can always get a job in M'cDonalds

[Celestine]

Re: Does my child have to go to school?

I home-educate my two teenage boys. They were taken out of school where we used to live after appalling bullying from students and teachers alike (long story). When we moved to Co. Durham, we made the decision to continue with the HE, and were contacted by the local Education Authority who wanted to know why our 'school age' children were not in school. After sending them a copy of our educational philosophy the lady was happy for us to carry on as we were. I was told that we would be contacted again after a year to ascertain if our decision was to stay the same.

While, for many, the education system is a good way for our younger generation to learn the skills they will need as adults, the 'Education Otherwise' route is just as valid and (for many home educators) much more rewarding.

:whoo:

Good for you, I sincerely wish my family had been able to do this for me, as the 5 years of hell that was Secondary School are years of my life I will never retrieve.

Every child is different, some will utterly thrive in a school environment. But some could make the transition into adulthood far easier without the constant social pressure of school life. Least of all the ever present social media. At least with home schooling you may have a hope of regulating your childs access to the internet. At school...not a chance, every kid seems to have a smart phone these days.

[des8]

Re: Does my child have to go to school?

Good on you!
As I said previously, although we didn't home educate, some of our friends did.
One of them became a radiographer, another is training to be a vet.
Don't have any McDonalds nearby

[Kati]

Re: Does my child have to go to school?

Since taking my boys out of the education system, their learning has come on in leaps and bounds! My partner has family in Austria, so they are both learning German as a second language, my eldest (14) is going to be starting his DofE awards this year, the younger (13) wants to learn wood carving / stick making :tinysmile_grin_t: We have no set schedule, most of the 'teaching' is directed by what the boys WANT to learn. The staff at our local library know our first names and are wonderful at finding things we need for a topic/task. They are learning budgeting, cookery, agriculture, we take them on nature walks to find edible plants etc...

It is the best decision I ever made :tung:

[Kati]

Re: Does my child have to go to school?

If your child doesn't go to school, don't worry.........
They can always get a job in M'cDonalds

maybe so LOL ... but MY two actually know how to cook - they can prepare a three course meal from scratch :tinysmile_twink_t2: