Home Ed secondary age to do or not to do

[mebaasmum]

Hi
I am thinking about taking my 12 almost 13 year old out of school. He has aspergers and likes school but I dont know that it is good for him. Recently he has become alot more difficukt at school. Started swearing etc. He picks up on stresses and others behaviour alot. DS2 (10) on the other hand has never been that keen on school says he only goes to see his friends. It seems by the time he has done homework music practice there is little time left for the things 10 year old boys should be up to. Home Ed has been at the back of my mind for years. In many ways I wish we hadnt embarked on school. Not quite sure what advise I am looking for really

first thing to do is to find your local network of HEers, probably. Where are you?

I took my elder daughter out at 12 and it has been a resounding success. She is much happier, more balanced, positively easy to handle compared to many of her peers (we have the odd teenage moment but generally we get on fantastically), and has just sat an IGCSE paper this afternoon, at the age of 14.

My youngest came out at 8, a year before eldest, and is also really thriving. I found the same as with your youngest - I was dragging her off the piano at 8.30 because she had to go to school and in the evenings she often had homework. She has so much chill out time now and fun time with friends and is still academically well ahead. HEing at secondary seemed very scary at first but has turned out really manageable.

I can give you any specific advice you want - and there will be other people on here with advice on educating children with aspergers who I'm sure will post. A lot of the children in our home ed group have all kinds of special needs - school is often not right for them so they turn to HE in desperation - and they do very well indeed.

Thanks for your help. That is encouraging. We have lots of thinking to do. We are in the West London Middlesex Surrey orders area so I know there is home ed groups in the area

Hi all

My son's school has suggested he do an additional course outside of school as he is very able and possibly not being fully challenged at present. I've looked on some sites but they seem to take only 16+ (ds is 14). Musicposy, how did you go about the IGCSE for your daughter?
many thanks

Mebaasmum, unfortunately I can't offer any real advice, but if I could rewind the clock many years I would definately HE. Go by your instincts. Good luck and enjoy the adventure!

1Jules1, have you looked at the Open University? If you want more info including other families' stories, try the Home Educators Exams site.