Should I Homeschool My Child?

1. Start with why

Before deciding how to change your child's education, understand why you feel something needs to change.

Perhaps your child:

• is being bullied or is unhappy

• isn't being sufficiently challenged

• struggles within a large or highly structured environment

• needs greater flexibility

• has particular educational needs

• has lost their enthusiasm for learning

• is highly practical, creative, musical or sporty and isn't getting enough opportunity to develop those strengths

• would benefit from greater individual attention

• or you feel their education isn't preparing them broadly enough for the future.

Try to get beyond "school isn't working" and identify exactly what isn't working for your child.

That becomes the problem you're trying to solve.

2. Decide what outcome you want

Once you've established why you're considering homeschooling, ask what you actually want to be different.

If your child is being bullied, for example, the outcome isn't homeschooling. You might want them to feel safe, rebuild their confidence, develop healthy friendships and enjoy their childhood again.

Homeschooling could achieve that.

But another school might achieve it too, while providing opportunities to form new friendships, develop resilience and enjoy being part of a different community.

Alternatively, perhaps your child is incredibly musical, practical or sporty but those abilities aren't being sufficiently nurtured.

Home education might give you the freedom to build their education around those strengths. Equally, a different school with specialist teachers, facilities and greater opportunities in those areas might provide an even richer environment.

Homeschooling is one possible solution. The outcome for your child should come first.

3. Consider all the routes to that outcome

Once you know what you're trying to achieve, explore the alternatives.

1. Could something change within their existing school?

2. Would another state school provide a better environment?

3. Could activities, tutoring or experiences outside school provide what's missing?

4. Could an independent school offer greater personalisation, specialist teaching or more opportunities around your child's interests?

Or does homeschooling genuinely provide the environment your child needs?

A change of school is significant. Moving from school into home education is a much bigger change. Exploring the alternatives helps ensure you're solving the underlying problem rather than simply changing the setting.

4. Think about the child you actually have

Some children flourish with the freedom and one-to-one attention homeschooling can provide.

Others love being surrounded by people.

Think about your child's personality, friendships, energy levels, interests and learning style. How much structure do they need? How independently do they work? Do they thrive in teams? Do they love competitive sport? Do they need lots of physical activity? How important is spending every day with friends?

Think about their relationship with you too.

A child can have an amazing relationship with their parent while responding very differently when that parent becomes responsible for teaching them every day.

The question is whether your particular child is likely to flourish within the life homeschooling would create.

5. Think about yourself and your family

Homeschooling changes family life.

Ask yourself whether you genuinely have the time, patience and temperament to take responsibility for your child's education.

There's planning, teaching, researching, organising activities and potentially travelling between groups, tutors, sports and other experiences.

Your home matters too. You don't necessarily need a dedicated classroom, but consider where learning, practical projects and physical activity will happen, particularly if you have several children.

And think about your relationship with your child. You will remain Mum or Dad while also taking on considerable responsibility for their education.

For some families that combination works beautifully. It still deserves careful thought beforehand.

6. Think beyond learning at home

Home education doesn't have to mean sitting around the kitchen table.

Museums, businesses, libraries, nature, travel, online resources, practical projects and everyday life can all become part of a child's education.

But children also need opportunities to experience things that work better with other people.

Sport needs teammates and opposition. Drama needs performers. Music can become something completely different when played together. STEM projects benefit from different ideas. Friendships need time and shared experiences.

Homeschooling families can create these opportunities through groups, clubs, tutors, activities and other home-educating families.

Done well, this can create an incredibly rich childhood. It also requires considerable intentionality from parents.

7. Work through the financial implications

Homeschooling has no school fees, but it isn't necessarily free.

Families may need to pay for resources, technology, tutors, sports, music, activities, travel, trips and potentially examinations.

Then there is the potentially much larger cost of your time.

If one parent stops working or substantially reduces their hours, calculate the income being sacrificed.

The economics can look very different depending on your family. Homeschooling several children can spread that opportunity cost across their education. Giving up a substantial salary to homeschool one child may produce a very different calculation.

For a single parent, the financial implications can be greater still.

This is also why independent education deserves consideration. School fees are significant, but if an independent school can provide the personalisation, specialist teaching, breadth and environment you're seeking while allowing both parents to continue working, it may make more financial sense than you initially expect.

Compare the real cost and benefits of each option, rather than simply comparing school fees with no school fees.

8. Return to your why

Now go back to the challenge you identified at the beginning.

What did you want to change?

What would a great outcome look like for your child?

Then compare the realistic options:

State school, independent school and homeschooling compared

• Personalisation: state school, varies. Independent school, often greater. Homeschooling, potentially exceptional.

• Flexibility: state school, lower. Independent school, varies. Homeschooling, very high.

• Specialist teachers: state school, available. Independent school, often extensive. Homeschooling, may require external support.

• Daily friendships: state school, built in. Independent school, built in. Homeschooling, need to be intentionally created.

• Team activities: state school, usually available. Independent school, often extensive. Homeschooling, need organising.

• Facilities: state school, varies. Independent school, often extensive. Homeschooling, external facilities may be needed.

• Parent time required: state school, lower. Independent school, lower. Homeschooling, very high.

• School fees: state school, none. Independent school, significant. Homeschooling, none.

• Additional costs: state school, usually lower. Independent school, varies. Homeschooling, can be significant.

• Potential lost earnings: state school, usually none. Independent school, usually none. Homeschooling, potentially significant.

This comparison isn't there to produce a winner. It's there to help you decide which combination best addresses your original why.

What Does an Extraordinary Childhood Look Like for Your Child?

This is perhaps the biggest question of all.

Here at The Mount, our purpose is to make childhood unforgettable, and our belief in creating an extraordinary childhood shapes how we think about education.

An extraordinary childhood will look different for every child.

For one, it might involve spending hours outside, building things and discovering the natural world. Another might come alive through music. Another through sport, books, science, technology, art or being surrounded by friends.

Academic development matters enormously, but childhood is happening now, not simply preparing children for adulthood.

So when considering homeschooling, another school or staying exactly where you are, ask:

Which environment gives my child the greatest opportunity to learn, develop their talents, build wonderful relationships, become increasingly capable and genuinely enjoy their childhood?

For some families, the answer will be homeschooling.

For others, it will be a different school.

And sometimes, after exploring everything, parents may realise that their child's existing school remains the right environment, with a few changes or additional experiences around it.

How We Think About This at The Mount

At The Mount, we understand why parents increasingly want a broader and more personalised education for their children.

Our approach combines strong academic foundations with opportunities across art, music, sport, technology, creativity, relationships, teamwork and practical experiences.

Children are part of a community, surrounded by other children and specialist teachers, while still being known and encouraged as individuals.

For some families considering homeschooling, that kind of independent education can provide a middle ground between a more conventional school experience and taking complete responsibility for education at home.

Our purpose, however, is bigger than a particular educational model.

We exist to make childhood unforgettable.

That means helping children discover what they love, develop who they are, form relationships, experience remarkable things and leave us with memories and foundations that will stay with them long after childhood is over.