Contents:
Getting Started, The Law, Know Your Rights: FAQ’s ‘Shorts’ and interviews are available to view on YouTube @EmmaHardyOfficial you can also follow me on X @EmmaHardy196290 (I’m often hidden behind a ‘sensitive content warning’).
- Introduction, About Me
- The Law and Parental Responsibility
- Why I Home Educate
- Attack on Independent Schools
- Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
- Education Otherwise – Tips to get started
- Christian Concern – Godly Wisdom
- Links to Interviews, Resources, Books
Introduction
In the UK, educating your children is compulsory but sending them to School is not. From the ages of 5-16 years children are legally required to receive an efficient, full time education which is suitable to their age, ability and aptitude. The vast majority of children in the UK receive a school education, however, recent data collated from Freedom of Information Requests show in the last 4 years alone, Home Education notifications have more than doubled.
The number of pupils moving to Home Education has risen by 22% in the past year. UK councils received at least 49,819 notifications in 2022-23 from families wanting to Home Educate a child. This is the highest level since 2020-2021, when there were at least 49,851 new notifications.
As well as providing some persuasive arguments for considering Home Education, our aim is to provide practical advice for those looking to create your own bespoke and custom made education.
Home Education is often confused with the term ‘Home Schooling’ – or worse, the appalling ’emergency measures’ put in place by Schools during ‘Lockdown’. Once you understand that these are very different and often conflicting concepts, the opportunities to learn are endless.
We welcome feedback and questions from anyone interested in supporting Home Education. Whilst we encourage and support parents wishing to take responsibility for their children’s education – we appreciate that not everyone will currently be in a position where this is practically possible. For those of you who are interested but uncertain, we hope this information will help to remove some barriers, empowering families to act in the best interests of your children.
These pages will be updated and reviewed on a regular basis and we look forward to hearing from you and sharing your experiences.
About Me
I’m a wife and mum of two teenage daughters in North Yorkshire. My husband has spent over 40 years teaching personal safety and physical intervention skills. In 1995 he founded a specialist training company in preventing and managing work related violence and continues to develop and provide training solutions internationally. I joined in 1998 as a physical skills trainer and then became office manager, leaving to start our family in 2009.
Both our children attended Playgroup and State funded Primary School (as did my husband and I) without incident until March 2020. I was able to have some involvement in their early education by volunteering with reading, cooking, school fundraising events, trips etc. However by 2022 it became apparent that School(s) were unfit for purpose. Basic safeguarding and the standard of education are now well below what I would consider a ‘suitable education’.
Prior to Lockdown my husband and I had never considered Home Education. We didn’t know anybody who had been Home Educated and thought precisely what we had been told to think e.g. ‘Home Schooling is for weirdos’. Thankfully we’ve had our eyes well and truly opened and we don’t think that anymore!
Emma Hardy
The Law
The Education Act 1996 Section 7
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/56/contents
Section 7 Duty of parents to secure education of children of compulsory school age:
https://www.gov.uk/schools-admissions/school-starting-age
The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him to receive efficient full-time education suitable—
(a) to his age, ability and aptitude, and
(b) to any special educational needs [F1(in the case of a child who is in the area of a local authority in England) or additional learning needs (in the case of a child who is in the area of a local authority in Wales)] he may have, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.
Parental Responsibility “All mothers and most fathers have legal rights and responsibilities as a parent – known as ‘parental responsibility’” https://www.gov.uk/parental-rights-responsibilities
An ‘efficient’ and ‘suitable’ education is a broad legal definition and sounds daunting, however put simply, parents are entitled to reject the standard ‘one size fits all education’ on offer in most school settings. Home Educators are not required to follow a set curriculum including the National Curriculum. Your child is not required to sit any examinations (such as GCSE and A levels), but many choose to.
You are not subject to Ofsted inspections. The local authorities have no legal duty to monitor and supervise your home education, however they do have a duty to identity children not receiving an education and may want to know what educational provision is being made for your child.
If you choose to Home Educate you will not be eligible to access your child’s educational funding – the funds which are allocated to state schools per child. This means you are free to educate as you see fit. The local authority will want to know if you are providing a ‘suitable education’ and this is likely to include submitting an annual education report, as has been our experience. If your child has been attending a special school under arrangements made by the local authority, the local authority’s consent is needed for the child’s name to be removed from the school roll. Consent is requested in writing and may not be withheld unreasonably by the local authority, but it is important that the parent includes in their application details of how they will meet the child’s special needs. The local authority can refuse consent, but must give reasons for any refusal, which the parent can challenge.
Children with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, or families seeking additional support for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) may qualify for additional support from the local authority, this will be subject to terms and conditions laid out by the local authority. To date, my experience is that the local authority have been supportive, however this certainly isn’t the case for everyone and significant change is looming https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/59-01/0177/240177.pdf
My Home Ed Story – “School isn’t for everyone”
Several years ago whilst our children were still at Primary School my good friend Godfrey Bloom took me aside one evening and tried to warn me about the current state of mainstream education. I explained that our kids were happy and we couldn’t afford public school fees anyway. I remember saying that the local CofE Secondary School had an excellent reputation and was rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted! I didn’t want to have to think about whether the education was actually suitable when they claimed it was “outstanding” alas the seeds of doubt were sown. A short while later and after a lockdown (or three) my eyes were opened. As with most things, he was right on the money. Thanks for the nudge Godders!
People will want you to know why you have decided to reject the standard expectation of a School Education. Rejecting norms comes with raised eyebrows, some feel personally threatened by your decision. Realising that you haven’t given much thought to who or what is influencing your children is unsettling, I know that’s how I felt during Godfreys annoying little chat! Most people seem happy to accept that: “School isn’t for everyone”.
Another Way to Learn? written by an experienced group of UK home educators provides a helpful guide to inspire and encourage parents seeking an alternative education. Includes tips and advice for when you might be in need a confidence boost. See book links.
The New Normal
During lockdown, kind and seemingly sensible Teachers no longer welcomed our children into class with a cheery smile and a “Good Morning”. This was replaced with masked faces demanding that children line up outside to wash their ‘dirty’ hands before entering the classroom. This routine could be repeated up to several times a day according to the guidance from DfE at the time.
The new hygiene measures also included the use of chemical alcohol gels, this was to save time from all the hand washing. Consequently thousands of children suffered sore and irritated skin, as was the case with our youngest daughter. These chemicals were applied to our children without parental knowledge, schools no longer bothered with asking for ‘parental consent’. Campaign group ‘Us For Them’ reported on this during that time https://usforthem.co.uk/
School safeguarding and common sense went out of the (open) window and was replaced with the ‘New Normal’. Concerned teachers who are brave enough to question nonsensical policies or raise safeguarding concerns often face harassment and are hounded out of their jobs.
When our eldest daughter said she wanted to start Secondary School in 2021 I decided to become a Lunchtime Supervisor (aka a Dinner Lady) and then progressed to a Teaching Assistant, which meant working in classrooms. Schools are advertising for teaching assistants – it is evidently a struggle to recruit and retain staff, a significant reason for this is because they do not feel safe.
Violent behaviour is a major problem in our schools. A 2019 survey conducted by a teaching union found that 1 in 4 teachers had experienced physical violence towards them on a weekly basis.
Nine in ten said that they had received some form of verbal or physical abuse in the past year.
LGBTQIA+ and Gender Ideology
Lockdown opened the floodgates for a whole range of new and experimental educational tools and edtech solutions and external providers. The DfE states that schools: ‘should take extreme caution when working with external providers and must not promote extreme political positions’. ‘Gender Identity’ was officially incorporated into mandatory curriculum in September 2020 as a part of Anti Bullying under Relationships and Sex Education and many resorted to using external providers. It seems that the majority of state schools now contain some resources and materials containing explicit sexualised themes and promote gender ideology.
Back in 2017, Nigel and Sally Rowe were among the first to courageously challenge trans-affirming school policies after being told that their son ‘misgendering’ a child could be considered a form of bullying. They faced significant resistance from mainstream media, including from now disgraced Phillip Schofield (and Holly Willoughby) on ‘This Morning’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e32i2NL7QwU
Nigel and Sally, went on to Home Educate their two children, and challenge trans affirming policies, including the Church of England’s ‘Valuing All God’s Children’ guidance which embeds trans ideology into church school policies. This policy was commissioned by now disgraced Justin Welby with the help of lobbying group Stonewall. Welby reluctantly resigned as Archbishop of Canterbury in November 2024 in light of The Makin Review which exposed his failure to safeguard boys from horrific abuse, carried out over several decades by John Smyth QC. https://christianconcern.com/comment/why-welby-should-have-resigned-long-before-he-did/ The new guidance issued in September 2024 ‘Flourishing for All: Anti-Bully Guidance’ remains unfit for purpose. CofE schools and the DfE remain at risk of further legal challenge – but more importantly leaves children at risk. https://christianconcern.com/comment/new-cofe-guidance-still-in-thrall-to-trans-ideology/
Transgender Trend is the leading organisation in the call for evidence-based healthcare for children and young people suffering gender dysphoria and for factual, science-based teaching in schools. For resources and advice visit: www.transgendertrend.com
Sex Matters is a Human Rights Charity with the mission to promote clarity about sex in law, policy and language in order to protect everybody’s rights www.sex-matters.org
As part of a schools inclusive approach their libraries now have whole sections dedicated to the genre of LGBTQIA+. Once again schools are outsourcing their responsibility to check their teaching resources are age appropriate or suitable and are relying on ‘trusted book suppliers’ – resulting in dire book choices. This was the case for our youngest daughter who after just 3 months after starting secondary school (Year 7) brought home a book containing a chapter titled: ‘Wank Fantasy’ with links to online sexuality forums for her to discuss her sexuality or potential ‘Asexuality’ with strangers online. https://x.com/GBNEWS/status/1790812654640185568
In 2024 the school gave me (and rather foolishly the BBC) a ‘SLAPP’ – Strategic Lawsuit against Public Participation. This is just an example of the tactics state schools will deploy (with tax payers money) to silence parents (or ex employees) from exposing what is going on in school, including giving children access to unchecked, sexually inappropriate library books. In the interview I explained how staff were unclear about school rules; whether boys were allowed to access the girls toilets on account of gender identity or “being born in the wrong body”. The solicitors firm acting on behalf of the school, were reported to the Solicitors Regulation Authority ‘SRA’ and are under investigation for attempting to silence those speaking out on issues of public interest (correct as of June 2025). https://youtu.be/xDwIzGxAXIU?si=B9MtcWHGNkPiLgrH
Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) and Subject Access Requests
All parents are entitled to see any teaching materials upon request. Anyone can make a Freedom of Information Request (FOI) to obtain a list of LGBTQIA+ themed titles available in the school library. I strongly recommend that parents become familiar with The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) which grants the public the right to access information held by public authorities, this includes State funded schools in the UK.
When a request for information is made (this can be via email or even via social media), public authorities should respond within 20 working days, either providing the information or explaining why it cannot be disclosed (with a valid exemption). It is unlawful to withhold information subject to FOI. In my experience many organisations are unlawfully applying heavy handed and sweeping exemptions to avoid disclosure. This should be challenged, explain why the exemption has been unlawfully applied and escalate to an internal review. Evidence of organisations failing in their duty to respond to a lawful request can then be submitted to the Information Commissioners Office for external investigation. This can result in the following sanctions; warnings, reprimands, fines or even prosecution. Not to mention reputational damage.
It is a good idea to teach your children about protecting their personal data. As part of Home Education you can explore situations where you might want to make a Subject Access Request or exercise your Data Subject Rights under General Data Protection Regs ‘GDPR’. As well as obtaining school records I would recommend following this process for obtaining data held by your NHS GP surgery. From the age of 13+ children are generally considered competent to consent to accessing their own medical records. For children under 13 parental consent is usually required. You may find that your NHS GP or ‘Caldicott Guardian’ is reluctant to disclose medical records for children 13+. They may insist on meeting your child to determine their ‘capacity’. This behaviour is unlawful, evidence of a legitimate basis is needed to challenge this request. This is another example of State overreach into parental responsibility. Online access to GP services, surgeries may now set an automatic ‘cut-off age’ from 11(!) meaning that parent/guardian access to their child’s data is stopped, the reason given for this by the NHS is: ‘to protect an older child’s confidentiality’.
Digital Grooming and Data Harvesting
Since the pandemic ‘Remote Learning’ has now been accepted as a normal part of education in our Schools. Whilst sold as a time saving solution for busy teachers, self regulating Edtech platforms may also pose a threat to data security and interfere with healthy child development. Teachers using digital solutions often have very little understanding of how this technology can also be used for harvesting children’s data. This includes collecting ‘special category data’ such as biometrics, finger prints, facial scanning and can be used to implement behavioural nudging e.g. “Digital Grooming” in order to normalise and familiarise the next generation into accepting increased surveillance and measures such as a Digital ID.
In 2015 a group of dedicated volunteers led by Jen Persson began researching the National Pupil Database and exposed how the DfE were giving national pupil data to the Home Office for immigration enforcement https://defenddigitalme.org/my-school-records/national-pupil-data/ In 2017 ‘Defend Digital Me’ was formally incorporated to advocate for safe, fair and transparent data in education. By putting in place processes and tools to give parents and learners ways to exercise their rights around their personal data, to help restore autonomy and agency. Families should understand how their children’s data is collected – and what schools, the State, and any contracted third parties do with it. https://defenddigitalme.org/
Pippa is the Director of ‘Biometrics-in-Schools’ and has campaigned for over ten years in the sector. She was instrumental in the introduction in the relevant sections of the Protection of Freedoms Act, passed in May 2012, which requires schools to gain written consent from children and guardians before processing biometric data in schools. She is active at Defend Digital Me in global horizon scanning and developing technologies in education. Pippa was my first introduction to Home Ed and I’m extremely grateful to her for opening my eyes to the threat of biometric data harvesting in school. Pippa continues to campaign for privacy and civil liberties with the use of biometrics in schools https://youtu.be/9K2gzRit7Ag?si=VUhhTkNNdytZTEft
Sleepwalking into a Surveillance state Pippa King
https://youtu.be/Y_W-lA4r6JA
https://pippaking.blogspot.com/p/about.html
Richard Vobes Digital Grooming! with Emma Hardy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEuhzHxq6lY&t=2s
- N.B correction – According to responses to my Freedom of Information Requests the majority *not all* State Primary Schools in York were using external providers for RSE in 2023 – with the exception of Catholic faith schools.
As a result of these experiences and in addition to advocating for Home Education I campaign for women’s sex based rights and child safeguarding. In 2023 I challenged Europe’s largest ‘family friendly’ Health club for secretly allowing men (who identify otherwise) to access ‘female’ changing rooms with me and our daughters (then aged 11 and 13). I am extremely grateful to have received so much public support for this action. Despite raising over £10,000 through public donations the financial risk became too great and a “drop-hands” settlement was reached in February 2025. You can read more about this at Democracy 3.0 https://democracythree.org/help-emma-sue-david-lloyd
New Culture Forum Interview with Peter Whittle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU5pVvz9FTI
Independent Schools Under Attack – 1st January 2025
From 1st January 2025 the UK Government removed the Independent Schools 20% VAT exemption. The Government claim that the money raised will go towards funding public services, including propping up struggling state funded education. This legislation is unjust and discriminatory – no other European country imposes VAT on private education. The devastating impact is already being felt with many independent schools having to close. Low cost independent schools, who often support children with special educational needs (not those from affluent backgrounds) are the hardest hit.
Thankfully Christian Concern are helping these families fight back.
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill – 2025
UK Government has announced that the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill was a “landmark” children’s bill “which will seek to keep children safe”. Home Education is being conflated with safeguarding risk – despite there being no evidence that home education represents a risk to children.
The rise in Home Education is being driven by parents not choosing to home educate but in response to schools failing to meet the needs of their children. Despite their abysmal track record the UK Government are of course seeking to control Home Ed.
The data shows that children are not better off in school in a great many cases, rather, they are being removed from schools because schools are not fit for purpose. This Bill, along with our Schools needs to be reformed.
Campaigner and long time experienced Home Educator Randall Hardy explains what’s at stake https://youtu.be/9OAvScr5LMY
Education Otherwise
Education Otherwise was founded in 1977 and is the foremost Charity across England and Wales promoting the right of parents/guardians to home educate their children. They offer a targeted range of services, resources and research. They liaise and work directly with individuals, public and private organisations and Government bodies.
Their name comes from the Education Act, which states that parents are responsible for their children’s education, ‘either by regular attendance at school or otherwise’; the fact is that education is compulsory, but schooling is not. Whilst starting out I personally benefited from the resources available at Education Otherwise, for which I am very grateful.
A message from Wendy Charles-Warner co-Chair of Education Otherwise.
https://www.educationotherwise.org/starting-out/
Christian Concern
Christian Concern (founded by Andrea Williams in 2004) uphold the central role of parents in raising the next generation, and highlight that good education is built upon a Christian worldview, especially in the areas of relationships and religion. They regularly connect with those involved in home-education and those who lead home-education organisations. This can include providing legal advice to those looking to start home school cooperatives, and those looking to keep their schooling entity within the law but outside of inspection. Christian Concern have supported dozens of courageous parents and teachers and provide legal advice for those taking action against harmful gender ideology in our schools. I would like to personally thank the wonderful team at Christian Concern for their expertise, wisdom and prayers when I needed them.
https://christianconcern.com/ccissues/education/
Resources: Books, Groups and Online Courses
It is our right and privilege to provide our children with a ‘tailor made’ education, completely personal to their individual needs. Educating children is often challenging but it isn’t rocket science – although it can be if you want!
Books
Another Way to Learn by Molly Ashton https://www.anotherwaytolearn.co.uk/
‘Over the past century the role of parents in the education of children has changed dramatically. This timely book, written by an experienced group of UK home educators, is a call for parents to take back this role, a battle cry to defend our right to do so and a vision for the restoration of family within our nation. It is a handbook to equip and empower families in the daily rhythms and choices of home education. This book will inspire those who are curious and encourage those already on the journey. Packed with practical advice, it is an irresistible call to bring education right back to the heart and hearth of the family.’
Free Your Mind by Patrick Fagan and Laura Dodsworth https://www.patrickfagan.co.uk/free-your-mind
‘You may not notice it, but you are surrounded by manipulators. Advertiser, politicians, big tech – everyone is trying to get inside your head and claim it. Learn how to spot it, and learn how to stop it.’ To view my interview with Patrick, visit: https://youtu.be/d_BdTeNhWo0
Gender, Design and Marketing by Gloria Moss – Light Bulb Moments and the Power of Critical Thinking: Insights from Inquiring Minds and Literary Heroes by Gloria Moss Phd and Katherine Armitage https://truthuniversity.co.uk you can see my interview with Gloria here: https://youtu.be/cotkpjKU3vc
Groups:
One-Room Education https://one-roomeducation.com/ was founded by Katie Jones (based Ohio, US) with the mission to blend classical learning techniques with today’s tools and values. With the belief that education should inspire, educate, and equip individuals to think critically and engage meaningfully in their communities. Join a network of educators, parents, and students from around the world who are dedicated to transforming education. You can see my conversation with Katie at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUhUJ8gVCXc
Christian Home Education Support Service (CHESS) – CHESS is a network of home educating families in the UK which provides a place where you can find others to link up with, ask advice from, and be encouraged in your home educating journey. They offer opportunities to meet other like-minded families by running day conferences and an annual member holiday.
Classical Conversations – Provides compelling, influential Christian leadership in the home-centred, classical education movement. They Provide weekly classical, Christian communities that hone students’ academic and classical skills of recitation, logical thinking, and persuasive rhetoric. Provide Parent Practicums across the United Kingdom that empower parents to teach any academic subject classically.
Streams – aims to encourage, equip and connect Home Educators and have a large number of Christians involved.
Christian Education Europe – Provides resources and curriculum for home educators and schools.
Immanuel Online School – Provides a model of online schooling that blends traditional schooling and home education. Students can work at home (or any suitable location) but are taught and assessed by teachers with subject expertise, via flexible personal study and timetabled small group tutorials.
Wishing you and your children every success for the future,
God Bless.