Significant Increase in Home-Educated Students in the UK
New data from the Department for Education (DfE) reveals that approximately 149,900 children missed school at some point during the 2023-24 academic year, marking a 28% increase from 117,100 the previous year.
Additionally, there has been a significant rise in children receiving elective home education (EHE), with 111,700 students currently enrolled in EHE programs, compared to 92,000 last autumn. This surge has reignited debates about the need for an official "children-not-in-school" register.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union, warned that children missing education face risks not only to their learning but also to their safety and well-being. The new government plans to introduce a register under the Children’s Wellbeing Bill to address these concerns and ensure no child is lost within the education system.
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