Over the past few years, something seismic has been happening: home education in the UK is surging and not just as a pandemic blip. These aren’t fringe numbers anymore; they’re reshaping education.
National Numbers: What’s Really Happening
111,700 children were reported as electively home educated (EHE) in the autumn term of 2024, up from about 92,000 the previous year-a 21% rise in just one year
Across the 2023–24 academic year, 153,300 children were home educated at some point, compared to 126,100 in 2022–23 Home Elective Education-Autumn 2024-25 stats.
In summer 2023, around 97,000 were educated at home, up from 86,000 earlier in the year
That means home education is no longer marginal it’s now mainstream, representing 1.4% of 5–16-year-olds
Regional Variations: London & Beyond
The rise isn’t uniform:
- London saw a massive 20% year-on-year rise: from 9,540 in 2022–23 to 11,780 in 2024–25
- Boroughs like Tower Hamlets recorded a 63% spike (240 → 390 children), with Bexley and Barking & Dagenham both rising by ~57–58% Education Executive May 2025.
- In England overall, regions like the South West and East of England have slightly higher EHE rates (~1.3%), compared to ~0.8% in the North East/North West
What’s Driving the Numbers?
It’s not just pandemic fallout:
Mental health and wellbeing are key factors, parents are opting out due to anxiety and insufficient support in mainstream settings- The Guardian -Sept 2024.
A growing number of families cite lifestyle or philosophical reasons around 25% do so The Guardian -Jan 2024.
Persistent school absence, especially among students with SEND, remains high (~20% persistently absent in secondary)
Numbers have grown 60% since 2018–19, rising from ~80,000 to over 126,000 in 2022–23
Implications & Emerging Challenges
These shifts are reshaping education:
Local authorities are under increasing pressure to manage and monitor rapidly growing EHE cohorts.
A looming national register, proposed in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill could bring greater oversight and standardisation
Without better support, there’s a real risk of children “falling through the cracks”, particularly those with SEND or mental health needs .
On the positive side, more families are finding flexible, tailored alternatives, and some LAs are piloting remote learning bridges to ease transitions .
What This Means for Home Educators (and Authorities)
- Stronger communication is vital: proactive support from LAs, and clear info-sharing from parents, helps reduce friction.
- Data is double-edged: it helps justify tailored support but could also trigger tighter monitoring if not contextualised.
- Trust and transparency are essential to avoid unnecessary escalation (e.g. inquiries or attendance orders).
- Peer networks and specialist groups continue to play a huge role in navigation and advocacy.
Final Reflection: Where Do We Go From Here?
- Could better early intervention in mental health or SEND support reduce the need for deregistration?
- How can LAs balance safeguarding and support without undermining families’ freedom?
- As numbers keep rising, what new structures are needed to ensure quality, equity, and safety for all children?
Need more support? You’re always welcome to join our SEND & Home Education Support community, where parents share experiences, ask questions, and support each other.