"I don't think he's reaching his full potential on the academic side, particularly with maths. I've been considering home education to see if this will have any effect not just on his ability but also on his attitude."
Just a thought - if you reproduced a school-like situation at home, that could be really awful for a child who "says he doesn't like all the hard work."
But if you could have a situation at home which was NOT like school with what feels like hard work, then it could be great for his attainment, attitude and happiness - win-win. I really agree that it's awful that year 2 children can feel under academic pressure
"But, i'm also a little worried about the other aspects of school that he would miss out on such as working as a group, working to a timetable, school plays, trips, etc."
All these things, you need to think really carefully about what aspectys of them you are thinking are so valuable and, if they are, whether they are reproducible without school. E.g. there may be HE groups you can join which would provide opportunities for some or all of them (I'm sure there are in the NE, since I know several HEers in the Durham area!). Drama groups for plays. Trips - well, that's what HE is all about for some family! Endless jollies Working to a timetable - you can impose one (but worth thinking carefully about just what is so splendid about having externally appointed times for doing things IMO)
"What about teachers, they train for 3-4 years to teach children and surely there must be a reason for that?"
Yes. It is because they are going to be trying to manage a classroom of 30 children with only a certain amount of help from classroom assistants. They have to find ways of maintaining their authority so the children are as on task (that is, the teacher's task) as much as humanly possible, so that the noise levels are reasonable, so that people are not being beaten up, so that equipment is not being destroyed. They have to try to keep abreast of the learning of all those 30 children, thinking about what each child is ready for and what they'll find interesting. They have a National Curriculum to deliver. It's a hell of a job. Fortunately, you are not planning to pretend to be a classroom teacher. Facilitating your children's learning is a totally different kettle of fish (read Alan Thomas and wossname Pattison "How children learn at home" - it's a real "oh, I see how it could work" book)
"I also have a DD age 1, work part-time, am studying with the OU and value my me time, i'm not sure if it would actually be feasible." Ah well, that's all part of what you'll be needing to work out
"I currently live in the North-East and was wondering if there are any home educators local to me. I may soon be relocating to Northampton where my DP works, which is another reason for home educating." There will be groups in both places. Look at the "how to find other home educators" conversation in the HE topic