I home educate - my DS has never been to school - AMA

[OvertheUnicornRainbow]

My DS is almost 13, always been home-educated and is thriving. Ask me anything

@Sixsandwich - I'm educated to Masters level. We had no LEA 'checking up on us' until recently we have attended a couple of home-ed events and had a home visit - it was more for support than checking up on us, though.

That is a very limited set of GCSEs OP for a child who you describe as academic.

I'm curious as to how it works if you are full time and also home schooling. Does he spend time at home alone teaching himself?

@PointeShoesandTutus - just checked and yes, only 5 GCSEs needed for A levels

@Hercwasonaroll - yes - a good idea to check. It is pretty common to space them out in the home-ed community, though. I work shifts. But yes, once DC are older they can go to home-ed classes/activities alone and study alone at home. He doesn't have any actual private- tutoring.
@janemaster - I can check this. But lots go to university and I've not heard of spreadout being a problem. But often home-ed is viewed favourably so maybe that's why it's not an issue. Just checked and only 5 gcses are required. Does it vary at different places. Not sure why it matters that it's not all planned out now as he's only just 13. We have plenty of time to find out all the information!

What are his days structured like? If you and his dad are working who is teaching him? Tutors?
Do you not worry that he may struggle to adjust to the structure of university/work when he gets there? Im only asking as there was a girl on my course at uni who was home educated and she really struggled to adjust to uni both the social side of it and the structure of deadlines and tutorials/lectures etc. She didnt have any of the same experiences as her peers growing up and it really seemed to impact how she interacted with us all tbh.

@doadeer - well, I studied a wide range of subjects to GCSE level myself so that's 10 subjects! But luckily I don't need to teach it myself - there are classes available, private tutors, books, libraries, workbooks and tonnes of resources available on the internet.

Just be aware that if he wants to do further study on a subject, it can be hard to do a GCSE early and then nothing on that subject for a couple of years. This is something I heard from someone else I know who was HE and was in that situation.

How do you know he has a full understanding if the subject? I mean I have 11 gcses but I am 100 % certain I would not be able to teach my children all of the information for 11 gcses. And I know that sometimes you can read all the information you can find but still not fully understand something esp with subjects like sciences.
Also if he is going to classes how is that any different to what he would be doing at school?

@StormDenise - he's not interested in school. Yes, sometimes Unis give different offers to home ed kids we know personally where this happened in more than one case.

Is he going to classes directly related to his GCSEs, or just random HE groups?

Universities give different offers to people with a non traditional route to higher education. But it is more likely for subjects where you need good literacy and ability to study, but you don't need lots of subject specific knowledge.

@janemaster - just provide opportunities - he spends at least 3 days a week with peers now and then hobbies/sleepovers/camps etc on top of that.

@Boredbumhead - good to hear - we have heard it anecdotally alot.

How did he meet his peers?

I ask because both I and anyone I know who has been HE for more than a short time, had limited contact with peers. Do kids play out where you live and that is how he met them?

I'm a home educated adult if anyone still wants an AMA
Please can we stop going on about how spreading your gcses out means unis will not have you on their courses, because it's just not true. I did my gcses in 2 batches, my dB did his in 3, my high intensity degree course admissions didn't care and looking at how his A levels are going at college I would be surprised if they did for him either. I would say I'm grateful for the wide range of subjects I took though (10 gcses) as it meant I could do pretty much any combination of A levels I wanted

@Obsidian77 - if I'm teaching him.something I'll do my research and get up to date resources

@Itwasntme1 - what would you do if you needed to know something for work or study? You'd research it and find out what you need to know. So I don't need to know everything. I studied 10 subjects to GCSE obviously including Maths, English, Science. You can buy a curriculum if you want or use an on-line one. You can use classes or private tutors. I expect he'll go to college for A levels and maybe some GCSEs.

@bakedpotatoandgin I did not go to university, but that is what I was told. If it is wrong then sorry. I am older and it may be different now from when I was HE.
Incidentally I would never HE. I think it is very difficult to do well and very few achieve this.

OP - I think what people are thinking about is explaining things your DC does not understand. For example, I studied physics and really struggled with understanding what was called then electrical engineering. My mum did not understand it either. But a teacher could have explained it to me.

@Itwasntme1 - I think regarding Uni - it is about confidence - if so I think they should be able to cope with the classes. There can be a lot of noise in home-ed classes too!

@janemaster I'm sorry if that came across too harshly, I wasn't aiming it an anyone in particular I just get fed up of the same thing again and again

I don't have kids yet but tbh I'm not sure I would HE except if my child were really struggling with school - my parents did it brilliantly and I'm not sure I could!

We home Ed and find most people ask the same questions.

How do they socialise? (by not living under the stairs?!?)Their friendship group is much wider and more varied than when theynwere at school and are people who share views or interests rather than children who happen to live in the same area born in the same year.

How do I know I'm qualified to teach them? Well tbh I don't actually teach them in the way most people mean. What I have taught them is how to find information and review it critically. How to learn and reinforce a new skill and where to find help if needed and most of all how to form their own opinions and discuss them whilst respecting others views.

My eldest spent this afternoon teaching me how to light different types of fire using different methods which she researched herself. None of it I knew before this afternoon!

School didn't work for my children, maybe it will in the future, we can reassess if and when needed.

An inspiring teacher can develop passions through passing on their own love for their subject. One person cannot possibly do this
(* there may be reasons that outweigh this in terms of negatives of being at school, but it is undeniable that an expert in a subject will have more to offer than someone reading up on it ahead of their child)

@TreesSandSea - you've obviously not read the thread! Yes, he has trips out and friends but I've also said he goes to classes, does online work and I've not said I (or his dad) don't teach him anything! I like to think I do! Although he probably teaches me an equal amount! He learns from friends and their parents too and we often attend lectures and educational visits.

I studied 10 subjects to GCSE obviously including Maths, English, Science

Do you not see the irony in this OP? You yourself have had the benefit of a proper education but are depriving your son of that opportunity.

@Outingpost - no, we're all very happy about the decision. His DS is only 8 so he doesn't feel he has missed out although if that will change as she gets older - we'll see. I can't really think of anything he could feel he is missing out on.

If you talk to HE adults, lack of mixing with peers comes up again and again, especially by the time you get to teenage years.
There may be HE individuals who do spend a lot of time day-to-day with peers, but it seems to be rare.
What is more common is spending time with younger and older kids. But the problem with that is older kids will put up with things your peers won't, and if you are the older child there is a power differential. Socialisation with peers as a child is crucial as it teaches you how to relate to an equal.