Homeschooling in the UK

Hello all,
I was just wondering if any of you are or are planning to homeschool in the UK.  I understand that the schools will be much better there than here in the US [especially where we live in the Atlanta area], but we will be moving to the UK after the term starts in Oct 2015.  I know it's a long way off, but we have been doing this at home so far [no pre-school or anything] and we don't plan on putting them into school before we go. 

Our daughters will be 6 [almost 7] and 5 when we come over, and I am not comfortable with starting them in school immediately when we arrive and I was actually thinking of keeping them out for another year or two, even.  The original plan was to homeschool until they were at least 8 & 9, then move to England and put them in school there, but we are moving sooner than expected as my husband is homesick.

Anyway. Is there anyone out there doing this?  Anyone have any experience with homeschooling in both the US and the UK?  Advice?  From what I gather, the laws here in Georgia, while lax, are still more oversight than what's in place there [woohoo!].  I feel like I'm doing a good job, but I'd still like some pointers for the move TIA

Have you gone to the Education Otherwise website?
http://www.educationotherwise.net/
Homeschooling isn't as popular here (in my experience) as it is in the States.   I'm only aware of two families that homeschool-one was a military family from the States. They were only here for a few years.  The other are an English family and their daughter has special needs.  They felt that their local education authority didn't offer an appropriate setting  in either mainstream or special.
 

Here are some additional links:

http://www.home-education.org.uk
https://www.hslda.org/hs/international/UnitedKingdom/default.asp

Thanks, y'all!
I have seen most of those sites, just wondering if anyone on here was doing it. I know it's more prevalent than it used to be over there, but still not as common as it is here.

I'd contact your local authority's education department:
https://www.gov.uk/home-schooling-information-council

If your child has special educational needs, you may want to try the National Parent Partnership Network:
http://www.parentpartnership.org.uk/

More information here as well:
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/pupilsupport/parents/involvement/homeeducation

I'd contact your local authority's education department:
https://www.gov.uk/home-schooling-information-council

If your child has special educational needs, you may want to try the National Parent Partnership Network:
http://www.parentpartnership.org.uk/

More information here as well:
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/pupilsupport/parents/involvement/homeeducation

Thank you! I won't know where we will be for a while yet, so I guess I'm going to have to do some more research after we arrive.  I certainly won't be putting them in school for the very first time when we arrive.  New country, house, and everything else will be hard enough

The US and UK school systems are significantly different. (Neither I would deem better)

We have chosen to continue to homeschool our son while living in the UK for many reasons:
1. My son has been homeschooled since he was 7, and he will be going on 14 in the next month.

2. Over the years we have established a routine that works. He knows what is expected and is progressing well.

3. The UK teaches systematically different. My son would have been grade levels ahead of his peers in many subjects, and behind in others. For instance, science and math are generally taught separate and to mastery in the US, while in the UK multiple areas of science or math may be studied in small parts over years.

4. At the high school level students in the UK tend to take select courses which are directly related to the university program they are hoping to get into. The US requires a larger range of subjects throughout high school and into university. My son wants to attend a US university.

Again I will say I find neither better, but rather advantages to both methods.

5. I was truthfully concerned about the increased risk for bullying. Being new, foreign, tall for his age, and interested in many things children his age are not would put a bullseye on his back.

But the biggest reason for me keeping him homeschooled was that is what HE wants. hahaha... This started as a temporary situation while we were looking for a new private school for him and ended up long term.

That being said, homeschooling in the UK is NOT easy.

#1 Homeschooling isn't as popular, and most UK homeschoolers are unschoolers

#2 You can pretty much forget about co-ops, field trips, local places offering homeschool days. (This is what I miss the most)

#3 Finding another family in your area to get together with for educational activities or even play groups might prove to be impossible

#4 The school systems are NOT supportive. This becomes increasing noticeable when you are trying to find a place to sit for exams.

#5 Teaching material is so much harder to obtain. (Forget about having the telephone book sized Rainbow Resource catalog) We actually import everything.

#6 Science material is incredibly expensive and hard to find.

#7 Depending on the area you move the library system might be rubbish. (Wait...THIS is what I miss the most!)

If my son was younger I probably would have at least tried the UK school, but being older, I felt the transition was too great. If you have any specific questions let me know and I will try to answer them.

As a librarian, I can testify that all the libraries I have visited, from Glasgow to London, are dire.

As a librarian, I can testify that all the libraries I have visited, from Glasgow to London, are dire.

Agreed, as far as the local libraries are concerned.  They have certainly gone downhill since I was last living here.  Very sad. 

The US and UK school systems are significantly different. (Neither I would deem better)

We have chosen to continue to homeschool our son while living in the UK for many reasons:
1. My son has been homeschooled since he was 7, and he will be going on 14 in the next month.

2. Over the years we have established a routine that works. He knows what is expected and is progressing well.

3. The UK teaches systematically different. My son would have been grade levels ahead of his peers in many subjects, and behind in others. For instance, science and math are generally taught separate and to mastery in the US, while in the UK multiple areas of science or math may be studied in small parts over years.

4. At the high school level students in the UK tend to take select courses which are directly related to the university program they are hoping to get into. The US requires a larger range of subjects throughout high school and into university. My son wants to attend a US university.

Again I will say I find neither better, but rather advantages to both methods.

5. I was truthfully concerned about the increased risk for bullying. Being new, foreign, tall for his age, and interested in many things children his age are not would put a bullseye on his back.

But the biggest reason for me keeping him homeschooled was that is what HE wants. hahaha... This started as a temporary situation while we were looking for a new private school for him and ended up long term.

That being said, homeschooling in the UK is NOT easy.

#1 Homeschooling isn't as popular, and most UK homeschoolers are unschoolers

#2 You can pretty much forget about co-ops, field trips, local places offering homeschool days. (This is what I miss the most)

#3 Finding another family in your area to get together with for educational activities or even play groups might prove to be impossible

#4 The school systems are NOT supportive. This becomes increasing noticeable when you are trying to find a place to sit for exams.

#5 Teaching material is so much harder to obtain. (Forget about having the telephone book sized Rainbow Resource catalog) We actually import everything.

#6 Science material is incredibly expensive and hard to find.

#7 Depending on the area you move the library system might be rubbish. (Wait...THIS is what I miss the most!)

If my son was younger I probably would have at least tried the UK school, but being older, I felt the transition was too great. If you have any specific questions let me know and I will try to answer them.

Thank you! I certainly will. We are currently Unschooling, but I plan on *maybe * putting them in for a couple of years when they are 8 and 9, so they can experience what school is like.  We will remain in the UK or Europe until they go away to University at least, maybe longer, but I am hoping they want to go to College in the US, because I am Native American and they can go to state schools for free. 

My husband has been worried about all of these things, so I will definitely be in touch. Sad about the library situation