Just 5 weeks into deschooling my 15 year old twin girls. After 3+ years of school refusing and their deteriorating mental state we decided to take the bull by the horns and reregister. Up to now it has been the best thing we've ever done. They are taking 3 IGCSEs in September - something they are keen to do. I only wish we had done this years ago. I have seen my daughters personalities disappear to be replaced with anger, anxiety and depression, suicidal thoughs and absolute misery. They have been bullied to such an extent they couldn't speak in school, had no friends, no one helped :(. The school didn't know what to do - all they were interested in was attendance. Their sadness has been intolerable for both myself and their father. I feel they have been damaged by the whole secondary school experience. The school have even tried to label them autistic - as their social skills had completely disappeared. Until a bullying episode in Year 7 they were fine - I know that sounds unbelieveable but I truly believe that is where their problems started. Wish me luck. My daughters now laugh, speak to me and have started to show emotion again - after 5 weeks! I honestly feel as though I would have been burying one of them if we'd carried on forcing them in! I am in touch with some homeschoolers in Liverpool and we are looking forward to our journey. I have got past the anger in knowing that if they had had behavioural problems the school would have been falling over themselves to help them - but with emotional problems there is no help whatsoever in our area. Ali x