Please sign our flexischooling petition!

[flexischoolingUK]

Flexischooling is an arrangement where a child of compulsory school age is registered at school full time, but the school agrees the child can be educated at home for part of the week. Flexischooling is a full time education, just like full time school or full time home education. This is a legal option in England, Scotland and Wales, but isn’t very well known (even in schools).

In England and Wales, flexischooling, if agreed, is marked as Code C, authorised absence. The trouble with this is that code C still
affects the school’s attendance data, which can put schools off agreeing. Before 2019, Code B (educated offsite) was allowed and this code did not negatively impact attendance data.

In December 2024, the head of Ofsted, Sir Martyn Oliver, voiced the concern in his end of year report, that we have no way of knowing how many children are being flexischooled, as Code C is a generic authorised absence code, and it is impossible to differentiate between flexischooling absences and other authorised absences.

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill proposes that flexischooling be managed by LAs. This seems like an inefficient and costly duplication of oversight and data retention, as flexischooling children are already registered at school full time, seen in school on a weekly basis, and schools are already recording attendance of flexischooling pupils on a twice daily basis!

We believe our proposal makes more sense logistically and financially. For schools to continue to manage flexischooling arrangements, but for a specific flexischooling code to be used (Code F) giving the government quantifiable data on the number of flexischooling children. Ideally, this code would not impact attendance data, as flexischooling pupils are legally receiving a full time education and it seems unnecessary for schools to be penalised for agreeing to a flexischooling arrangement in the best interests of a child. This is the current system in Scotland, flexischooling has no negative impact on attendance data.

We are aiming to reach 10,000 signatures to get a response from the government, but more than 10,000 would be a fantastic testament to the interest in flexischooling. We currently have at least 1 signature in all but 5 constituencies in the whole of the UK! It would be absolutely amazing to be able to say that every constituency in the UK had signed.

We are currently missing a signature in Nah-Eileanan an lar in Scotland, and 4 constituencies in Northern Ireland:

Mid Ulster - Mr Cathal Mallaghan MP

East Antrim - Rt Hon Sammy Wilson MP

Lagan Valley - Sorcha Eastwood MP

Belfast West - Paul Maskey MP

Whilst this petition isn’t directly aimed at Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, signatures from these countries do count and the petition data will be available even after the petition ends, and could be used to demonstrate the high levels of interest in flexischooling in these countries.

And of course, if every single constituency signs, that’s a statement everyone in the UK can use, that this petition demonstrates the universal support for flexischooling in the UK, with every single constituency having signed! 🤞

Please consider taking 2 minutes to sign and verify your email (please check your junk/spam folder) as unverified emails do not count.

Thank you!

Happy to answer any question regarding flexischooling 🙂

Flexischooling petition link

We have over 700 schools on our flexischooling map who have previously agreed to flexischooling. Around 50 actively advertise flexischooling and flexischooling has saved a number of small schools from closure due to low pupil numbers.
It is not the right path for all children, just as full time school or full time home education is not the right path for all children, but it is a legal option that not many parents and schools are aware of.

However, both parents and schools have a duty of care and responsibility towards meeting the needs of children, isn’t that the point?
Point is... that's ALL CHILDREN... not just yours, which the zealots somehow forget!

It could never be in the best interests of the school / class overall, op; so you really are asking for a hell of a lot of disruption to be sucked up to benefit your child.

How about you challenge some of the points then, instead of insulting posters like that?
No need.

The small schools saved from closure...are they private?

No one is under the impression that we would all have to flexischool. I think you’re the one completely missing the point.

'The greatest good of the greatest number' is the guiding principle in education, as in most public services. If you want a bespoke arrangement for your child, have you considered engaging a private tutor?

flexischooling has saved a number of small schools from closure due to low pupil numbers
A school in danger of closure due to low numbers is saved when the same number of children attend… less? 🤔

People on here are very ignorant of flexischooling, as in lacking knowledge, which is the meaning of ignorant. It's not an insult it's a statement of fact.

An excellent point! Yes, whilst schools are not responsible for providing the work children do at home whilst flexischooling, they are still responsible for the child’s overall progress and SATs scores. This is absolutely a consideration for headteachers when deciding whether to agree to flexischooling requests. Schools may like to begin with a flexischooling trial, to see how the arrangement would work. If the school has any concerns about the child’s academic progress they can review the arrangement with the parent and ultimately end the arrangement.

Ad you have highlight, flexischooling is commonly agreed for SEN children, children with medical needs or mental health issues and unlike a part-time timetable, flexischooling is considered a full time education.

You said "ignorant people". That's an insult, also that we think children are the "least important" people in schools. Also insulting.
Just argue the case rather than be critical of the posters.
At least the OP is doing that, and is being polite

What’s the point of teachers spending years getting qualified? Seems that inexperienced and unqualified parents can do their job?

They may miss geography in school, but can be taught geography at home. Instead of comparing rivers and canals theoretically with books and video clips on a whiteboard, flexischooling children could visit a working lock to see how it all works in reality. I did this myself, flexischooling my own child and he was invited aboard a narrow boat by a very lovely couple, which was a fantastic and unexpected learning experience.

You could visit a lock at the weekend to supplement. That’s what most parents do. I can see it working for children with SEND but other than that I don’t agree.

Ok. I think you may misunderstand what's required in Geography. I'm sure it was a nice friendly trip, though.

In the vast majority of cases, there are only 1 or 2 flexischooling pupils per school. In these situations, it is easy to track what has been missed and liaise with parents to ensure the same skills and knowledge are covered at home.

Some schools take a whole flexischooling approach. These schools carefully curate a curriculum to cover core days in school, and the school communicates to parents which parts of the curriculum the parents are responsible for covering.

When schools have low numbers, advertising flexi schooling means that more parents are attracted to send their children there so numbers increase.

No I won't sign it thank you, but if someone starts a petition to ban "flexischooling" I might put my name to that one.

If you're not interested in flexi schooling your own children, why would you want to stop other children or schools doing so?

What’s the basis for that claim?

Ok, so how does the teacher know exactly what's covered, does the parent send a lesson plan and.evidence of outcomes?

Because the chaos and disruption would impact all the kids in the class?

In the vast majority of cases, there are only 1 or 2 flexischooling pupils per school. In these situations, it is easy to track what has been missed and liaise with parents to ensure the same skills and knowledge are covered at home
'Easy to trak' for who?
You're still asking/expecting teachers to take on extra work aren't you. For them to pick up.on what they've missed at school and for the teachers to make sure that learning needs are met at home. So basically 'I WANT A PERSONAL TUTOR AND LEARNING PLAN!!'

Flexischooling is a partnership based on trust. Headteachers are not going to agree to a flexischooling arrangement where they are not convinced that the parent will provide a suitable education or where they feel they cannot work effectively with the parent.

This is another reason I believe flexischooling should continue to managed by schools and not LAs as proposed in The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill currently. Schools have a personal relationship with the parents. They know whether a flexischooling agreement with this parent is likely to be successful or not. LAs do not have the same personal relationships, and involving the LA in the decision making process is likely to increase the workload of all involved.

The children being flexischooled would never be on the same page as the rest of the children in class. They would be always out of their depth, behind, and feel like they are missing out. They could miss out on fun stuff as well as vital stuff.

Sounds like a logistical nightmare and destined to make flexischooled children overwhelmed by education as they'll only be getting a fragmented version with lots of gaps and lost parts.

Terrible idea.