I was homeschooled - AMA

[grace7]

Just bored, really. I have attended school before, but was homeschooled for the majority of my childhood. Ask me anything.

Did you attend school early in your childhood or later on. Did you do GCSEs, A levels etc...?

@MrMagnoliasBoot

I was raised in the UK but spent some time living in France, during this time my mother and I decided that I would go to school - an interesting experience. I went to college and have a UAL Diploma in Creative Media, unfortunately the college I went to had limited GCSE options. I was able to take an English GCSE alongside the Media. I'm a young mum, but I plan on returning to education when my ds starts nursery.

Why were you home schooled?

Do you feel you've missed out on the shared experience aspect that other people your age have all been through? (Like most UK educated people have memories of PE on freezing days, or singing in a nativity play/performing in school productions, playground games, school 'crazes' like having particular hairstyles, or collecting things like Pokemon cards - that sort of thing beyond the actual lessons.)

Will you home ed your DC?

Is the fact that you were homeschooled directly linked to your (as yet) relatively poor educational attainment?

How many GCSEs or equivalent do you have ?? and what grades ??

I think my lovely friend who homeschools wouldn’t measure success in terms of just results.
OP that is really interesting and what was favourite and worst thing about it ? And might you make that decision for your child too?

Also home educated, and have never been to school! Do you feel it was a positive experience?

Malmsley, as Junglefowl says, success is not all about academic results. If it matters, I have three A Levels, a couple of vocational qualifications and a Masters degree, considering PhD. My brother has almost no formal qualifications, but earns thousands of pounds travelling the world as a sound engineer for top bands. Success can be measured in many ways.

@wwwwwwwwwwwwww

I think my mother saw it as an alternative to school that would allow me to explore more of my own interests in a non-school environment. I was given a lot of freedom as a child, so I suppose it was a parenting choice.

@OrdinarySnowflake

I did actually spend just under 2 years at high school in the UK, so I can relate to what you're saying. I have some fond memories, but I would have to say I preferred the learning environment at home. I was also lucky to have a cousin of the same age who was also home-ed, so we spent a lot of time together as kids.

I think my son will go to school. If I was in a different position I would consider homeschooling, but at the moment it looks like it wouldn't be easy / possible.

@Malmsey

I don't believe so, I had the option to take my GCSEs at home but decided to go to college instead - this was a poor decision on my behalf as I was wrongly advised that I would be able to take GCSEs with the Media course. I was only allowed to take one subject alongside the media.

@Monday55

I explain above about my lack of qualifications due to a misunderstanding with the college. I have a UAL Diploma in Media & a GCSE in English - I got an 'A'.

What level is your diploma?

It does sound like being homeschooled was redundant if you're going to have to school to sit qualifications your peers attained years ago. Were there benefits that outweighed this? If so, what?

@Junglefowl
@WeeEnglishRose

My mother taught me that success was becoming brilliant at the things you love, less so the grades on paper. Despite my lack of qualifications, as a child I was musical and did several forms of dance (ballet, tap, street). I still do a lot of music - as much as I can with my 9 week old ds anyway!

Positives: having the freedom to spend hours doing something you feel passionate about (not having to stop at the sound of a school bell).

Negatives: as a teenager I found difficulty to push myself to do things, no matter how lazy I felt!