Setting new benchmarks for the provision of careers support for home educating families: findings from action research

Abstract

ABSTRACT The number of families in England choosing to withdraw their children from school has grown significantly since 2016. In this manuscript, we present findings from action research with purposefully sampled home educating young people (n = 9), parents/carers (n = 16), staff from Career Connect (n = 4), staff from schools and colleges (n = 4), staff from six local authorities (n = 14). We explore the reasons for withdrawing from school and subsequent access to Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance (CEIAG). We conclude that a growing number of families opt for home education as a short-term solution to broader challenges, often lacking awareness of the long-term consequences. National quality benchmarks for CEIAG provision in schools in England do not apply to provision outside of school. The near absence of professional careers support exacerbates other challenges of being outside of mainstream school and poses a major risk to the long-term life outcomes for those young people.