Home Education and the National Curriculum: A Flexible Approach
UK home educators aren’t required to follow the National Curriculum, but it can be a useful guide in certain situations:
- New to home education?
- Planning for GCSEs?
- Considering home education as temporary?
In these cases, aligning with the National Curriculum can provide structure and ensure comprehensive subject coverage. This approach may also smooth transitions between home and traditional schooling if needed.
In this article, I’ll explore the nuances of when you might need to follow the National Curriculum, and when it might be best if you don’t.
Did you know that the number of home-educated children in the UK has increased by 72% since 2019? A real term rise of over 50,000 young people.
With more families than ever considering home education, the choice between following the National Curriculum and embracing alternative curriculums has become a crucial decision. I’ve spent years working with families navigating these different educational paths, and I’ll guide you through the key differences, benefits, and some of the different approaches you can take to deliver that content. From structured learning to complete educational freedom, let’s explore which path might best suit your family’s needs!
Understanding the National Curriculum in Home Education
The UK’s national curriculum is basically a roadmap that tells schools what children should learn and when they should learn it. Think of it as a way to make sure that whether you’re in Manchester or London, students are covering the same basic material.
Teachers use this as a guide to plan their lessons and help students build their skills and knowledge. It’s like having a shared playbook that helps keep education consistent across the country.
The National Curriculum is different depending on where in the UK you are based…(drop down for more)
Key Differences
Implementation: Wales is currently in a transition phase, implementing its new curriculum gradually, while England and Scotland have more established systems, although the English National Curriculum is beginning the process of a review.
Structure: England maintains a more rigid structure with Key Stages, while Wales is moving towards a single continuum, and Scotland uses a progressive approach without distinct stages.
Flexibility: Scotland and Wales offer more flexibility for schools and teachers to shape curriculum content, while England provides more specific guidance.
Subject Focus: England maintains a strong focus on traditional subjects, whereas Scotland and Wales emphasize broader skills and areas of learning. The Welsh curriculum focussed especially on the integration of literacy and maths across other areas of the curriculum.
Assessment: Each nation has different approaches to assessment and exams, with Scotland’s system being notably distinct and with less standardised testing throughout the education journey.
So what does this mean for you as a home educating parent? If you wish to follow the National Curriculum, you should refer to the core documentation from the Department for Education for that nation where you live (or plan to live if you’re travelling and are returning to a different region).
If you’re home educating your kids, you don’t have to stick to this curriculum or take the usual tests like Year 6 SATs or GCSEs. It’s totally up to you! However, there can be some good reasons to follow it roughly in line with what’s happening in schools, such as…
Advantages of following the National Curriculum
- It helps keep your child on track with their school-age peers, which is handy if the plan is that they will return to mainstream education at some point.
- It makes it easier to spot any gaps in their learning.
- It provides a ready-made structure so you’re not starting from scratch with lesson planning. Lesson resources aligned with the National Curriculum are readily available online, often for little or no cost.
- If your child wants to take GCSEs, they will have covered the pre-requisite material to be able to access learning at this level.
- For parents and guardians with no prior teaching or home educating experience it’s the easiest access point and gives you confidence that you’re covering all the important bases in their education.
- Ready-made assessments are available with clear progression markers which makes reporting progress to the local authority a breeze. I would expect local authority officers to be well-versed in the National Curriculum, which does make that communication piece a little easier.
Disadvantages of following the National Curriculum
- Limited flexibility and reduced opportunity for child-led learning – The National Curriculum is designed for mainstream schooling and may not align with each child’s interests, pace, or unique learning preferences. Following it strictly can limit the flexibility home education offers to adapt content to a child’s needs or go in-depth on subjects they are passionate about.
- For children who have experienced school avoidance, anxiety or trauma, aiming to keep pace with the National Curriculum, initially, may be too close to formal schooling, or too intense, for them to engage with it, which may cause additional challenges. If this is the case for your family, taking things at your child’s pace and preferred intensity is key to maintaining engagement.
- Especially in secondary, subjects are usually taught in isolation from each other (and the resources available tend to reflect that). The research generally shows that cross-curricular approaches (which integrate multiple subjects around a shared theme) result in better outcomes in terms of engagement, creativity and critical thinking. National Curriculum content can still be taught via this approach, but typically not in the same order you might find in schools.
- Children often grasp complex concepts beyond national curriculum expectations. While prodigies exemplify this, even average children can understand advanced ideas when presented appropriately. Research shows young children can comprehend abstract concepts like non-existence and complex mathematical principles when taught using age-appropriate methods. So following the National Curriculum rigidly might prevent your child from reaching their potential within certain subject areas.
Curriculum vs. Educational Approach
Before I talk about curriculum alternatives, it might be useful to clarify the differences between a curriculum and an educational approach.
A curriculum is the content that’s taught – the specific skills, knowledge, and information that a child is expected to learn. It’s the “what” of education. A learning approach, or educational philosophy, is the “how” – the method and principles used to deliver that content.
Imagine you’re planning a family trip across the country. The destinations you want to visit and the sights you want to see are like the curriculum – they’re the specific content or experiences you want your family to have. The way you choose to travel – by car, camper, train, or a combination – is like the learning approach. Each mode of transportation (learning approach) has its own unique characteristics:
- Car: More structured, follows a set route, and allows for some flexibility.
- Camper: Provides a prepared environment, allows for more hands-on experiences, and adapts to the family’s pace.
- Train: Follows a specific track but offers a holistic experience, integrating various aspects of the journey.
- Backpacking: Highly flexible, allows for spontaneous exploration, and is led by the family’s interests.
Just as the mode of transportation can significantly impact how you experience your trip, the learning approach can greatly influence how a child engages with the curriculum. Some approaches might be better suited to certain types of learners or family situations, just as some travel methods might be more appropriate for certain types of trips.
Linked below you will find separate posts for a range of different educational approaches, giving you an overview of each. This list is not exhaustive, but does cover most of the approaches followed by the home ed community in the UK and elsewhere.
Montessori – Waldorf – Charlotte Mason – Reggio Emilia
Unschooling – Classical – Traditional – Eclectic – Unit Studies
Now, here is where we get into a shade of grey: most of those methods listed above do have set curriculums. These may be official, or unofficial ones designed by teachers or home ed parents. So if, for example, you wanted to go down the purist Charlotte Mason route, there are multiple curriculums out there to suit your needs that you could purchase ‘off the shelf’. Alternatively, you can take the governing principles of any of those methods and apply them to the delivery of much of the National Curriculum – albeit with varying degrees of difficulty!
In conclusion, as a home educator in the UK, you’re not required to follow the National Curriculum, but it can be incredibly beneficial in certain situations. If you’re new to home education, planning for your child to take GCSEs, or see home education as a temporary solution, the National Curriculum can provide you with a structured framework. This ensures you’re covering all the essential subjects comprehensively.
Remember, following the National Curriculum can make it easier for your child to transition back to mainstream education if needed. It can help you identify and address any learning gaps, and provide a clear path for your child’s academic progression. However, it’s important to weigh these advantages against the flexibility and personalization that home education offers.
As you navigate this decision, consider your child’s individual needs and future aspirations. Whether you choose to adhere to the National Curriculum or explore alternative curriculums, your ultimate goal remains the same: to provide your child with a rich, engaging, and effective educational experience that prepares them for future success. Trust your instincts, stay informed, play around and mix things up! Take the things that work well and achieve the aim, and repeat this with different content.
What curriculum approach are you taking? Do you have questions about whether or not you should follow the National Curriculum? Drop me a line via the comments section below!