An exploratory study investigating why do English parents choose to home educate their children and what educative practices do they adopt

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper based on an online survey and follow up interviews, is part of a larger study exploring English parents reasons to home educate (H.E.) their children and their pedagogic practices. The 54 survey responses, from a total of 223, showed that 92 children aged 2–18 had never attended mainstream education. Respondents views on the purpose of education, reasons for home educating and pedagogic practices were explored. Dissatisfaction with the education system and pedagogic practices were cited as reasons to H.E. and reflect previous studies carried out over the last ten years. The purpose of education as a preparatory process, for self -fulfilment and to engender a love of learning demonstrate the influence of the economic neoliberal agenda. Pedagogic practices ranged from those whose children followed a variety of curricula and did structured lessons to those who did neither. Respondents held children followed their own interests with some describing their approach as unschooling/autonomous education.