Considering Elective Home Education
Parents have a legal right to educate their child at home rather than at school, provided they ensure that their child receives a suitable full-time education appropriate to their age, ability, aptitude, and any special educational needs. The responsibility for providing and funding that education rests entirely with the parent.
At Stratton School, we firmly believe that attending school provides the best opportunity for most young people to achieve their full potential academically, socially and emotionally. Our aim is always to work in partnership with families to overcome challenges and ensure students can successfully access their education within a school setting.
Whilst we respect the legal right of parents to choose Elective Home Education, we do not want families to feel that EHE is their only option. Many of the concerns that lead families to consider home education can often be addressed through support, reasonable adjustments, pastoral intervention, SEND provision, attendance support, mentoring, counselling, timetable adaptations or other bespoke arrangements.
If you are considering withdrawing your child from Stratton School for Elective Home Education, we strongly encourage you to arrange a meeting with us as early as possible.
This discussion is not intended to discourage families from making an informed choice, but rather to:
- Explore the reasons behind your consideration of EHE.
- Ensure you fully understand the educational, financial and practical implications.
- Discuss any support that may help your child remain in school.
- Consider alternative solutions that may better meet your child's needs.
- Ensure any decision is made with a clear understanding of the potential impact on future qualifications and progression pathways.
Our priority is always the wellbeing, happiness and long-term success of every student. We want to work collaboratively with families to ensure that any decision made is in the best interests of the young person and gives them the greatest possible opportunity to achieve positive educational outcomes and future aspirations.
Before making a final decision, we therefore ask that parents contact the school to arrange a meeting with a member of the Senior Leadership Team. In many cases, early discussion allows us to identify support and solutions that families may not have realised were available.
A Significant Responsibility
Home education can be a positive and successful choice for some families. However, it requires substantial commitment, planning, time and financial investment.
When a child leaves school for EHE:
- Parents become fully responsible for delivering or arranging their child's education.
- Parents must fund any educational resources, courses, online learning platforms or tuition required.
- Parents become responsible for arranging and funding public examinations, including GCSEs.
- Schools are no longer responsible for delivering lessons, monitoring progress, reporting attainment or providing examination entries.
The Department for Education guidance makes clear that parents who choose home education accept financial responsibility for educational provision, including examination costs and any tutoring or specialist support required.
GCSE Examinations: Understanding the Costs
One of the most significant considerations for families considering EHE is the cost and organisation of GCSE examinations.
Unlike pupils attending school, home-educated students are usually entered as private candidates. This means parents must:
- Find an examination centre willing to accept private candidates.
- Register for examinations independently.
- Pay all examination entry and administration fees.
- Arrange any required coursework, practical assessments or speaking examinations where available.
Typical GCSE Examination Costs
Current private candidate fees generally range from:
Qualification Type | Typical Cost per Subject |
|---|---|
Standard GCSE | £180 - £300 |
Science GCSEs (including practical arrangements) | £250 - £400 |
Modern Foreign Languages (including speaking assessments) | £180 - £300 |
Art and Design subjects | £250+ |
Recent national comparisons suggest many examination centres charge approximately £200-£300 per GCSE subject once administration, invigilation and centre fees are included.
Example Costs
A student taking a typical suite of 8 GCSEs may incur examination costs of approximately:
- Lower estimate: £1,600
- Higher estimate: £2,800+
This does not include any tutoring, courses, textbooks or revision materials.
The Cost of Tuition
Many home-educated students require specialist support, particularly at Key Stage 4 where GCSE content becomes more demanding.
Current UK tutoring rates typically range from:
Tutor Type | Typical Rate |
|---|---|
Graduate/Student Tutor | £20 - £35 per hour |
Experienced Tutor | £30 - £50 per hour |
Qualified Teacher | £35 - £60 per hour |
Examination Specialist | £60+ per hour |
Most families can expect to pay around £35-£45 per hour for GCSE-level tuition.
A Realistic Example
A student receiving:
- 3 hours of tutoring per week
- For 38 weeks of the academic year
- At £40 per hour
would incur annual tuition costs of approximately:
£4,560 per year
Many students require support across multiple subjects, particularly English, Mathematics and Science.
Achieving a Full Suite of Qualifications
In school, students typically follow a broad curriculum and may achieve:
- GCSE English Language
- GCSE English Literature
- GCSE Mathematics
- Combined Science (worth 2 GCSEs) or Triple Science
- History or Geography
- A Modern Foreign Language
- Additional option subjects
This often equates to 8-10 GCSE qualifications.
Families considering EHE should carefully consider:
- How each subject will be taught.
- Access to specialist subject knowledge.
- Opportunities for practical science work.
- Access to language speaking assessments.
- Exam centre availability.
- The total financial commitment over two years of Key Stage 4 study.
For many families, the combined cost of tuition, resources and examination entry can amount to several thousand pounds each year.
Before Making a Decision
Elective Home Education is a lawful and respected educational choice for many families. However, it is important that any decision is made with full understanding of the responsibilities involved.
Parents should consider:
✓ The time required to plan and deliver education.
✓ Access to specialist teaching, particularly at GCSE level.
✓ Examination arrangements and availability.
✓ The potential financial commitment of examinations, resources and tutoring.
✓ Future pathways into sixth form, college, apprenticeships or employment.
We strongly encourage families to discuss any concerns with the school before making a decision to withdraw a child. In many cases, schools can work collaboratively with families to address concerns and explore alternative support arrangements whilst maintaining access to the benefits of school-based education.
Choosing Elective Home Education transfers full responsibility for a child's education from the school to the parent, including responsibility for educational provision, examination entry and all associated costs