Wiltshire pupils moving to home education doubles

The number of children moving into home education in Wiltshire has more than doubled since 2019/2020 and the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Freedom of information requests put in by the BBC show that the number of children switching to home education has gone up by 128% between then and the last academic year.

Wiltshire Council said the rise had been continuous since the pandemic, but that the total number of pupils home educated in the county was one of the lowest in south-west England.

Councillor Laura Mayes, cabinet member for education and skills, said: "We support parents’ rights to choose to home educate and we know it can be a positive experience."

She added: "Most families who choose to Electively Home Educate their children are doing so successfully and in a way that fulfils parental obligations within the Education Act 1996."

In 2019, Wiltshire had 302 children moving over to home education. In the most recent year, that was 689, a 128% increase.

The council added, however, that there was "always fluidity within this group of children and young people, with 250 pupils returning to school settings from home education during the academic year".

It also explained the percentage of home educated children in Wiltshire was 1.1% of the total in education.

Mayes said: "We are keen to build links with our home-educating families and communities to understand the reasons that parents choose Elective Home Education, and we are committed to providing advice and guidance for parents and carers in matters of Elective Home Education.”

Across the region, there has also been an increase in the number of children moving to home education. South Gloucestershire has seen an increase of 116% between 2019/20 and 2023/24 (156 to 337), while in Bristol there has been a 96% increase (270 to 530).

The government plans to create a register of all children not in school as part of its Children’s Wellbeing Bill.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Our mission is to break down the barriers to opportunity, so every pupil has the best life chances.

“That includes making sure every child is receiving a suitable education for their age, ability, aptitude, and any special educational needs whether they are in school or at home.”

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