To think that online school might be the answer

I have been considering this as my childrrn are struggling in school as both ND.
I also work from home.
I have concluded that unless I give up work then I would not be able to provide them with enough support to progress through the work. The planning of what they need to do and the additional activities needed to keep them socialised and active.
My work involves a lot of meetings and screen time for myself and I actually have started to crave human interaction lately. Being indoors all day and blurred boundaries between home and work life.
The interaction with different sorts of people and social situations does build resilience. Even mild bullying, whilst not ideal is something you have to deal with in the workplace too, especially in junior roles.
I think if I lived somewhere with a lot of green space and didnt have to work then I could provide a schedule that mixed online school with fulfilling social and physical education for my chikdren. But I think if you are working from home and hoping they would sit therr for hours on end being taught via a screen while you work, it is not an ideal choice.

I did. It was great and we have no regrets.

What about the teachers from older generations who can't cope with working in schools? Maybe a bit resilience and they can learn handle the awful behaviour that goes on in schools now?

Perhaps you should reconsider the after school activities first. Taking out for gcses comes with risk unless you have done your research and understand how to deliver the curriculum and exam technique.

I don't think wanting children to be broadly happy in their day to day lives causes a lack of resilience.

OP if they are systemically unhappy, surely this is the particular school and not school per se? Can't you move them? And are you sure it's school and not the general effect of adolescence?

I don't think you can HE whilst WFH full time OP. Online schools look great but you'll also have to be taking them to groups and out on trips.

And this
My ds had one which he made his way there and back on his own.

Definitely try it out. It’s so much easier for the kids to focus on learning when they are relaxed and comfortable. Also less stress in the house in general

No wonder we have a generation who can't handle the slightest difficulty. There's no resilience being built nor encouraged.

This is my concern regarding online/ home schooling- and I know people say we go here, there and everywhere (with your mum next to you) can't see how that prepares you for real life.

Then do it - although I would advise joining home ed groups which are full of advice and shared lessons. And to keep up with other activities - cubs, dancing or whatever.

School is a ridiculous environment - young people herded together en masse and hard to control, whilst trying to educate them at the same time. Some children love it - which is great; some do not - and they need to be catered for. It is OK not to love it.

Do not be ashamed of your feeling that you would like to spend more time with your chidlren - it is not selfish - it is natural! The whole situation where parents shed their responsibilities onto school is a strange one - great for those children whose parents do not have the time/education/ability to do it another way and whose children enjoy school but it does not have to be the norm. I was always less worried abut academic content than I was about values and ethos, which I wanted my children to absorb from me and my partner.

Take lots of advice, look for the right support, seek social opportunities for your chidlren, and there is no reason why this should not work out just fine. Go with your gut - you know your children best.

They would still have peers while doing online schooling, or are you planning on totally shutting them off from society?

I'd look at a closer school, less after school clubs etc but this is a crazy idea. Teaching them they can just come and hide in the house in the face of adversity is not going to encourage any resilience, and if you're already having to nag about homework it doesn't sound like they're self motivated enough for home school. Your employer won't like it either. Are you a single parent?

I think in your situation, in principle, it sounds like it could be a good thing. It's one I'd certainly explore if my DS was really unhappy at school.

I'd think through all the ramifications before discussing with them. How come the bus journey is so long? Is there a nearer school? Is there anything you could do about the low level bullying issues? Could they carry on with clubs etc or are the clubs they go to linked to school?

How would they socialise? I think home ed groups can be helpful but not sure how many there are for teens. What exercise would they get? Could they be self motivated or would you end up in nagging hell with the expectation that they could be constantly watching TV/playing computer games (this is what would happen with my year 8 DS i imagine!). What about practical elements of education like science experiments, field trips, drama etc? Could you get all your work done with potential requests for help, snacks, drinks etc. If all those things seem surmountable then I'd have a discussion with them to see how they feel about it.

But are you wfh while you homeschool as OP plans?
Sadly , OP , one way or another, they do grow away from us from the moment the cord is cut and if you look at other animals this is natural although how much does vary. Do you have time with them in the holidays? Any way you can compress your hours to have more leave in school holidays?

Mine does online school. She is an autistic teen in Yr 9 and was not coping in mainstream.
PROS:
Flexibility (we can choose her subjects, drop anything she can't cope with, do leassons as recorded lessons so can take time away during term time)
Home means she isn't always in sensory overload
I have FAR more insight into what she is learning and how she is doing

CONS:
It costs me money (school fees, exam fees)
I need to get involved a few times every day (I wfh but sometimes it is hard to juggle)
Online school = home education so you need to be educated on what is needed to satisfy the LA
DD has to be self directed - something she is working on - to get the work done to a high standard.

Feel free to message me if you have questions. It certainly isn't a panacea but my DD is SO SO much happier that we will continue on with this.

Can you afford it? If they’re taking a full suite of subjects leading up to GCSEs, this could be pretty expensive.

Would you be cutting the number of subjects they study?

Teach them to be more resilient not wrap them up in cotton wool.

This.

And remember, while they are in school, their teachers are doing the motivating and chasing. If they were in on-line school, you would be nagging them all day and all evening as well.

how old are they? How long is travel time to school?

It seems it would be easier to discuss the pros and cons of the after school clubs before jumping immediately to online school. That would mean earlier home times and more space for homework and other activities.

Of course they like the sound of it, they think they won't have to do anything. Don't think they'll thank you for it later though.

How old are they ?

How old are they? Why don’t you just see them after school?

I think you'd be better off cutting out the after school clubs and weekend stuff, so they have plenty of downtime outside of school.

How old are they?