FOI Request - Homeschooling

Request 101002961868

This is a freedom of information request relating to homeschooling. Please provide me with the total number of children in the authority area who are homeschooled and the number who have flexi-schooling arrangements. I would like this data for the past 5 school years (up to and including the 2021-22 academic year), separated by year. Please also differentiate between the numbers of primary and secondary school pupils. If reasons have been given to justify these arrangements, please also include these.

Response 08-02-22

Number of children home schooled:

Dates                                 Primary      Secondary      Total*
Aug 2017-Aug 2018                  24              16             40
Aug 2018-Aug 2019                  34              23             57
Aug 2019-Aug 2020                  35              30              65
Aug 2020-Aug 2021                  48             51             99
Aug 2021 - present                   38              51              89

* I have included those who were only home schooled for part of the year.

We currently have no children who are flexi-schooled, although recently we have had a small number of requests which have not been granted.  

As an authority, we recognise that rich educational experiences may be accessed in a variety of ways outwith the context of a school building, and that there are many reasons why a parent may wish to flex-school their child or children.  As a result we are currently developing flexi schooling guidance to support Head Teachers and Officers to consider parental requests to flexi-school their children in a fair and child centred way that ensures consistency across Moray.   We had identified this as a potential priority pre-Covid 19; however, due to the major disruptions, staffing issues and reactionary nature of our work, this unfortunately has not been progressed.  We hope to progress with our plans to develop, consult and present to Committee a Flexi-Schooling policy at pace.