Got questions about homeschooling or home education? Ask two experts from the world’s most experienced online school

[MaddyMumsnet]

Whether you’re thinking about homeschooling for the first time, exploring home education as a long-term option, or simply curious about how it all works, it can be tricky to know where to begin. From choosing the right curriculum to supporting your child’s social development, there’s a lot to consider – and every family’s situation is different.

That’s why we’re working with Wolsey Hall Oxford, the world’s most experienced online school, to give you the chance to put your questions to two of their senior leaders: Christine Armstrong and Ruth Young.

Just pop your questions in the thread below, and Christine and Ruth will be online next month to share their advice and insights. Everyone who posts a question by 28/08/25 will be in with a chance to win a £200 voucher (T&Cs apply).

About Christine
Christine is a mum and experienced educator, with over 20 years’ teaching and leadership experience in UK and international schools. As a member of the senior leadership team at Wolsey Hall Oxford, she’s passionate about the power of flexible online learning to meet diverse student needs and expand access to high-quality curricula. Christine also has over a decade’s worth of experience as a SENDCo and supporting families navigating different educational pathways, meaning she understands the importance of inclusive, student-centred learning that supports the whole child.

About Ruth
Ruth is a mum and an experienced educator, with over 20 years’ teaching and leadership experience in UK and international schools. As a member of the senior leadership team at Wolsey Hall Oxford, she’s passionate about the way homeschooling can be shaped around each individual child – personalising their learning and nurturing their unique potential. Ruth is also a trained schools inspector, with expertise in curriculum development, student support, and the diverse challenges that parents face.

How would you recommend keeping social interaction with other same age children whilst being home schooled ?

Can you have coursework and home work peer marked - so you know you are on the right path, and your child is where they should be academically for their GCSE's ?

With school bullying and violence becoming more prevalent - I would consider this from year 7 onwards, but would feel unprepared for certain subjects, how long before making the transition would you recommend starting, and how would you teach someone to teach effectively - do you offer parent training ?

Do you have any independently verified statistics which show pass rates for students as apposed to state schools.
I am interested in home ed - but want to give my child the best start academically

Are you hiring teachers?? 30+ years of experience and an English/phonics specialist 👌🏻😁

How do you support neurodivergent kids?

Do kids have a main class teacher that gets to know them well, or a succession of different subject specialists?

Do you offer trials or taster days for people who are considering this route but not sure if it will work for their child?

Do you operate in term times only, or can kids go at their own pace throughout the calendar year?

Do you offer online tutoring to supplement school, especially in the holidays?

I am considering this for secondary school - they look like lawless dangerous places to me - and knife crime and drug dealing terrify me.
How many hours teaching would there be in a typical school week, and would you recommend creating a room/ loft area especially for school work.
How much do text books cost for the school year ??

Hi, I'd like to know whether you have any experience with children living in Germany attending Wolsey Hall? There are specific laws regarding home schooling in Germany and it's not easy get a permission. Do you have any experience with this topic?

My child has additional needs - screened for dyslexia an dyscalculia - would a home schooling programme accommodate these, and would exams and course work for a 16 year old accommodate once a formal diagnosis had been made - I know my DC is bright - but his word and number work make like difficult for him.
Thank You

Does the LEA come to your home to monitor progress periodically ?

Do you think homeschooled children have and advantage or disadvantage over state school educated children ? Any why ? There are advantages and disadvantages - but would love to know why this can be the better option.

Thank you

How would this work if I was to home school 2 children of different ages, who are academically very intelligent, but I feel would not reach their full potential in a state school with 30 plus children in each class with teachers who are struggling to keep up with the various needs of the children.
Can you manage 2 timetables to match my time avilable ?

How do you transition from offline learning to full time homeschooling. Especially explaining why your kids will not be going back to offline school and will be learning from home for lower primary school

Will I get assessments to let me know my child will be learning as well or better than those in school in terms of assessments, and SATS (or equvalent) and that they are on track for good GCSE results ?

How long would I expect the school day to be, and do you have the same terms as state schools ?

Some obvious questions here, but I've always wondered - how do home schooled teens get to do chemistry practicals? My memory of chemistry at school was permanent minor explosions and bunsen burners and all sorts of things no one keeps at home.

What about physical exercise or drama or music - how are group activitities incorporated into the curriculum?

Do you think online schools count as home education, while legally they may be, surely they have more in common with other schools than with typical home education?

Do you have attendance policies and are they flexible or how do children and young people access the wonderful home education opportunities out there? (History workshops, archaeological digs, science days at the local uni etc)

How expensive is it? Most homeschoolers do most of the teaching themselves. It’s very doable with all that’s available nowadays, plus local groups etc.

Is any funding available from the government ?

Would the program be self-paced or does it follow a fixed schedule for those who fall behind with tuition due to illness, and can you alter a program to help catch up to a certain standard required, does it cost a lot more for 1 to 1

My question is how do you deal with the situation where a child is very resistant to learn something that is critical, like reading? Will they really learn in their own time, or could they end up at a disadvantage?

Do you have students who want to learn from countries outside the UK but want to learn a British style of teaching. My sister lives in the Netherlands and her children may not benefit from a state school, I'd like to mention this as an option for her.

Hello! How is your experience with stundents out of Uk since English is not their mother tongue? My son greaduated 6th grade in a traditional school in Romania and his first foreign language to study was German, he only started to learn English from the 5th grade, he is really progressing at it but not sure if his English level is good enough to be able to attend homeschooling. We are considering this for him since he is playing professional tennis and training and travelling a lot. Thank you

What do you do to motivate children who really don’t want to work at home and are there some children this doesn’t work for?

Can you homeschool a child from reception to year 11 or is it a short term thing?