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To wonder how people who homeschool acquire the knowledge to do so?

218 replies

Homeschooll · 29/04/2026 21:02

Just as the title really. I don’t have strong feelings on homeschooling, I don’t think it would be my choice mainly as I have little patience and I don’t feel I know enough about science or maths.

If you do it how do you know what you’re doing is right? What about the pastoral side? How do you make sure there’s a routine?

Just interested really. I’ve found more and more people are doing it.

OP posts:
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CharleneElizabethBaltimore · 03/05/2026 19:21

i do have a question what makes a treatise better than an essay ? eg Pricing Strategy in Fashion essay vs treatise ?

CharleneElizabethBaltimore · 03/05/2026 17:45

chichi001 · 03/05/2026 17:04

I'm a former primary school teacher.

Everything I learned in my qualifications towards becoming a teacher was around classroom management, planning, teaching techniques for a wide variety of students with differing needs, behaviour management etc. Barely anything around subject knowledge - all of that I had to 'learn' as I was planning and teaching. I knew nothing about, for example, rivers. But I was expected to teach it to a group of 10 year olds. I had to go online and teach myself the subject knowledge first.

So yes, if you are home educating your own child, YouTube and other online resources are absolutely fine. I HE my 14 year old. I don't know masses about GCSE biology - but he's about to ait his exam in it two years earlier than his peers bevause we have learned together.

Well said. based on the iran situation im teaching myself :

Global Logistics, Shipping & Trade Systems
The circulatory system of the global economy

  1. Containerisation and Freight Systems
  2. Global Shipping Networks
  3. Maritime Chokepoints and Trade Routes
  4. Port Infrastructure and Logistics Hubs
  5. Supply Chain Finance Systems
  6. Freight Markets and Pricing Mechanisms
  7. Intermodal Transport Systems
  8. Energy Transport (Oil, Gas, LNG)
  9. Trade Flow Dependencies
  10. Globalisation and De-globalisation Dynamics
MiddleOfHere · 03/05/2026 17:29

DanceMumTaxi · 03/05/2026 15:32

I don’t really know how parents manage at GCSE level without tutors etc. There are plenty of parents who could easily learn the knowledge but I can’t see how they’d have the skills to teach exam technique. I’ve been teaching for 20 years and now a head of department. It’s taken years and years of experience to really understand exactly what the examiner is looking for and to teach this well. My students do really really well because of the years of experience I have in helping them truly understand how to tackle the exam questions in the right way. I can’t see how parents could have this sort of knowledge over multiple subjects, even if they are very well educated themselves. I think people must have help at this level.

As you'll know, the exam boards release the marking scheme, sample answers, some sort of report or commentary (depending on the board and the subject) for each exam.
You read through them and apply what they've said. It's tedious (if it isn't what you are used to doing) but do-able (if the parent is inclined to put the effort in), although it may take longer than a teacher.

Also, for every GCSE subject there are a lot of resources available. And many of them include revision and exam technique tips.

A home ed parent then has to choose whether to invest in the time and effort or pay for someone else to do it.

chichi001 · 03/05/2026 17:04

Onbdy · 03/05/2026 08:48

@CharleneElizabethBaltimore
Are you seriously suggesting that watching a YouTube video is a suitable substitute for a qualified teacher?
Maybe we should all stop going to the GP, it’s difficult to get an appointment anyway. We can all just google our symptoms, diagnose ourselves and watch a YouTube video on how to treat it.🙄

Edited

I'm a former primary school teacher.

Everything I learned in my qualifications towards becoming a teacher was around classroom management, planning, teaching techniques for a wide variety of students with differing needs, behaviour management etc. Barely anything around subject knowledge - all of that I had to 'learn' as I was planning and teaching. I knew nothing about, for example, rivers. But I was expected to teach it to a group of 10 year olds. I had to go online and teach myself the subject knowledge first.

So yes, if you are home educating your own child, YouTube and other online resources are absolutely fine. I HE my 14 year old. I don't know masses about GCSE biology - but he's about to ait his exam in it two years earlier than his peers bevause we have learned together.

Owninterpreter · 03/05/2026 17:00

Netcurtainnelly · 03/05/2026 16:46

how do they then, and with others.

They join sports clubs. Some are even set up just for HE like ice skating.

My sons is school educated and did PE a level but his sport was done outside of school as it wasnt offered in school.

My other son was in cadets and they did sports night and cycled through a range of team sports. His sen school was too small for team sports.

MiddleOfHere · 03/05/2026 16:58

Netcurtainnelly · 03/05/2026 16:46

how do they then, and with others.

After school sports clubs exist and can be accessed by all children.

Also depending on area, there are home ed group sports sessions organised at a local sports centres. Mine went to one for years. They were booked by a parent who collected the money and paid the centre, resulting in 20+ children doing different sports each week led by qualified coaches.
There were similar things on offer for football, gymnastics, trampolining and more in other centres/towns near us.

Parents also organised sports days each year.

Schools do not have a monopoly on PE/sports.

kscarpetta · 03/05/2026 16:58

Netcurtainnelly · 03/05/2026 16:46

how do they then, and with others.

Sports clubs, swimming lessons, gym?

chichi001 · 03/05/2026 16:56

Netcurtainnelly · 03/05/2026 16:46

how do they then, and with others.

My child goes to the gym once a week, walks around 2 miles a day, does gardening, plays football, goes swimming once a week, plays in the park, goes on hikes and does lots of stuff with his forest school class and youth club, has been on outdoor education sessions where he has done rock climbing, kayaking and gotge walking, last year learned how to play cricket.

More physical activity going on then two hours of PE at school a week (which is more like an hour after changing, getting to the field, listening to instructions, waiting for the kids ro listen, going back from the field and getting changed)

Netcurtainnelly · 03/05/2026 16:46

AmusedMember · 29/04/2026 21:58

And why do you assume home educated children don't do p.e?!

how do they then, and with others.

chichi001 · 03/05/2026 16:08

Contrarymary30 · 03/05/2026 15:36

What about making friends and navigating how to get along with peers etc . My children remember school days in terms of the friends they made and still have some of them 30 years on . It must be a lonely life .

We dont lock them in the cupboard.

My son has more of a social life now than he ever did at school, and best of all, it isn't confined to peers his own age as it would be at school.

He goes to cadets, library club, the gym, youth club and is a member of youth Council, as well as has a weekend/holiday job, home ed groups and activities and all his usual friends.

kscarpetta · 03/05/2026 15:56

DanceMumTaxi · 03/05/2026 15:32

I don’t really know how parents manage at GCSE level without tutors etc. There are plenty of parents who could easily learn the knowledge but I can’t see how they’d have the skills to teach exam technique. I’ve been teaching for 20 years and now a head of department. It’s taken years and years of experience to really understand exactly what the examiner is looking for and to teach this well. My students do really really well because of the years of experience I have in helping them truly understand how to tackle the exam questions in the right way. I can’t see how parents could have this sort of knowledge over multiple subjects, even if they are very well educated themselves. I think people must have help at this level.

Loads of options for various budgets at GCSE level from 1:1 tutoring, group tutoring, small online classes, webinar style classes, colleges and AP settings, distance learning, hybrid in person/distance courses.

kscarpetta · 03/05/2026 15:53

Contrarymary30 · 03/05/2026 15:36

What about making friends and navigating how to get along with peers etc . My children remember school days in terms of the friends they made and still have some of them 30 years on . It must be a lonely life .

Home education doesn't mean they literally stay at home!

3WildOnes · 03/05/2026 15:41

Quite a few of the families in my childhood church home educated. From speaking to them I think their parents would often be learning with them and they would research and work through topics together. There was a big group of them who would get together to socialise in the day, play sports, go on trips to museums etc. I was very jealous! I think most of them went to college for A levels and then off to university.

Malinia · 03/05/2026 15:39

Contrarymary30 · 03/05/2026 15:36

What about making friends and navigating how to get along with peers etc . My children remember school days in terms of the friends they made and still have some of them 30 years on . It must be a lonely life .

Why do you think that? My child has much better friendships now than when he was at school. We are constantly out and about, the home ed community is very strong, we meet loads of people and he socialises far more than when he was at school, and with people who behave far better!

Home ed doesn't mean just staying at home all day! I feel like we are almost never in! We go to all sorts of clubs, workshops, visits and outings.

Contrarymary30 · 03/05/2026 15:36

What about making friends and navigating how to get along with peers etc . My children remember school days in terms of the friends they made and still have some of them 30 years on . It must be a lonely life .

Malinia · 03/05/2026 15:34

Interesting cross post there!

Malinia · 03/05/2026 15:33

I home educate, my child is secondary age. I actually find it odd that people think it's hard, getting to grips with a subject to GCSE level really isn't hard, they are pretty basic and if you want to do the curriculum all the information and resources are easily obtained.

You can coach a child to pass a GCSE in three months if you so choose, in most subjects (languages might be trickier).

We are focusing on subjects my DC is interested in so we are doing mostly the sciences, computer coding, and Spanish, as well as literacy and numeracy of course, and we do cover history and geography through visits to museums and discussions. He does sports and goes to drama club and Scouts.

We have experience of the school system and it failed my other child catastrophically.

DanceMumTaxi · 03/05/2026 15:32

I don’t really know how parents manage at GCSE level without tutors etc. There are plenty of parents who could easily learn the knowledge but I can’t see how they’d have the skills to teach exam technique. I’ve been teaching for 20 years and now a head of department. It’s taken years and years of experience to really understand exactly what the examiner is looking for and to teach this well. My students do really really well because of the years of experience I have in helping them truly understand how to tackle the exam questions in the right way. I can’t see how parents could have this sort of knowledge over multiple subjects, even if they are very well educated themselves. I think people must have help at this level.

mydaughterisademon · 03/05/2026 15:14

We’re about to do it, but funded through an ehcp. So my daughter will have tutors and therapists etc. I won’t be doing any of the teaching myself.

I’d love for her to go to school, but it just doesn’t work for her and her needs

TheNinkyNonkyIsATardis · 03/05/2026 15:05

In the early years, homeschooling is just a continuation of parenting. Nobody taught me how to teach my son to count or recognise letters etc.

kscarpetta · 03/05/2026 14:37

The inadequate education system and the inadequate child protection system somehow is blamed on home educating families 🤔

Leftrightmiddle · 03/05/2026 14:35

Thepeopleversuswork · 03/05/2026 14:13

Maybe its true that the LAs are a mess (I know they are) but it simply can’t be OK that people use this as a excuse to shrug their shoulders and allow anyone who wants to to remove their children without any oversight.

This isn’t only about education (although that’s a big part of it). Its about safeguarding. The most basic principle of the state is that it keeps citizens safe.

If parents feel their children’s needs aren’t being met in school they should absolutely be able to plan a more appropriate education for them. But there are families taking their children out and entirely neglecting their education or, worse, abusing them. Its simply not good enough to say: schools are shit + the LA is a mess therefore we don’t make any attempt to keep tabs on these children, what they are learning and what they are doing. Its a societal cop out on an epic scale which will have severe consequences for future generations.

The instances where children have been abused may be blamed on home Ed but again it was LA failure to safeguard
Sara is an example of this. Known to social services before she was even born. Lots of instances where safeguard concerns were raised but social services opted to leave her in the home. Yes they did remove from school in the end but at this point the paperwork the school completed would have had sections where they could raise concerns over home Ed being inappropriate - they either didn't do this or if they did the person checking didn't follow up.

Home Ed or in school isn't relevant as the process already allow for safeguarding but it is no good having powers if the LA and social services don't follow up.

The LA already has the responsibility to monitor home education
The press and government focus on home Ed is deflecting from the lack of actual agencies doing what they should be

Thepeopleversuswork · 03/05/2026 14:13

Leftrightmiddle · 03/05/2026 13:09

I'm not missing that point but until LA have a way to ensure all pupils can be properly educated in schools to meet SEN needs I don't think the LA can effectively judge anyway.

The LA has to get their own house in order before they start trying to arrange other homes

Maybe its true that the LAs are a mess (I know they are) but it simply can’t be OK that people use this as a excuse to shrug their shoulders and allow anyone who wants to to remove their children without any oversight.

This isn’t only about education (although that’s a big part of it). Its about safeguarding. The most basic principle of the state is that it keeps citizens safe.

If parents feel their children’s needs aren’t being met in school they should absolutely be able to plan a more appropriate education for them. But there are families taking their children out and entirely neglecting their education or, worse, abusing them. Its simply not good enough to say: schools are shit + the LA is a mess therefore we don’t make any attempt to keep tabs on these children, what they are learning and what they are doing. Its a societal cop out on an epic scale which will have severe consequences for future generations.

myfavouritedinosaur · 03/05/2026 13:18

Maybe this sounds weird but I would find it easier to home educate at secondary level, as they can access a lot of the learning themselves. It’s reception / KS1 I’d be lost with!

chichi001 · 03/05/2026 13:15

I home educate my 14 year old.

He is about to sit two of his igcses.

We have done it through my own knowledge from school, Internet, library, online lessons and self study.