Home Schooling

Parents are allowed to educate their children at home instead of school if they choose to do so. Under UK law it is education that is compulsory, not schooling, though the vast majority of parents do choose to send their children to school.

Parents of children who have attended a public school must seek the education authority's consent before withdrawing their child.

Parents are not required to seek the consent of the education authority in order to home educate their child if:

• their child has never attended a public school
• their child has never attended a public school in that authority's area
• their child is being withdrawn from an independent school
• their child has finished primary education in one school but has not started secondary education in another
• the school the child has been attending has closed.

In the last two cases parents may simiply notify the authority that they intend to home educate.

Further information on home education is available on the Scottish Government website - see link on the right.

Contacts

• Derek Samson
  Service Manager Schools (12-18) and Curriculum
  Education, Culture and Sport
  Business Hub 13
  Second Floor North
  Marischal College
  Broad Street
  Aberdeen
  AB10 1AB
  Phone: 01224 523817
  
  

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I educate my child at home?
• Does the Education Department hold a list of tutors that I can use to help me educate my child at home?
• What practical support will be offered to help me educate my child at home?
• What will happen if I say that I wish to educate my child at home?