Homeschooling

Since we’ve all gotten a taste of what it’s like to be homeschooled, it might end up becoming more popular. After all, with no strict deadlines, no moaning teachers and lots of lie-ins, what’s not to love? Well, a lot actually. Homeschooling comes with both advantages and disadvantages. Read on to find out what's really involved.

What is homeschooling?

The name says it all, really; it’s a way of studying for recognised qualifications, such as GCSEs, A-levels and degrees. But you do it in your own home at your own pace. It can also be called distance or open learning but the basic idea is the same. Studying from home offers an alternative to studying at a set time in a set place, like a school, college or university.

How does homeschooling work?

Generally speaking, once you’ve selected and registered for your chosen course you’ll be paired up with a tutor. Although it’s unlikely you’ll meet up with them in person, you can usually contact them via phone or email. You’ll be sent your course materials, including printed materials, websites, set books and assignment tasks, then the rest is up to you really. You’re not completely left high and dry though, most courses provide charts and advice to help you structure your study and organise your time.

Richard Totman finished his A-levels at school two years ago, but he didn’t get the results he wanted so he put uni on hold and went to work for his dad’s business. He’s now decided to study A-levels in Economics and Physics with distance learning packs from the National Extension College (NEC). This is with the goal of getting better grades and going to uni.

“I’m keen to come back and work for my dad in the future. But before I do, I wanna learn more about business. That way I’ve got the theory as well as the practical knowledge,” he says. “When my mark comes back after an assignment I get a detailed feedback report telling me what it’s lacking and what I need to improve on,” he explains. “I think that the course is very well laid out. In fact, I actually haven’t needed to contact them so far, but it’s comforting to know that that option’s always open to me.”

How do I know homeschooling is for me?

We can’t give you a straightforward answer to this since only you really know you. So instead we’ll just recommend that you ask yourself the following: Am I self-motivated? Can I work on my own? Do I have access to a computer and the internet? Would I be happy chatting to my tutor by email or phone instead of face-to-face? Can I fit school around my working life or caring requirements? If you answer yes to most of these questions, it could well be for you.

Can I work at the same time as homeschooling?

100%. Many of the courses are even designed to be flexible. That way you can qualify for the next level, or to get you onto the course you want while still carrying out whatever obligations you have. The beauty of home study is that you fit it in around your work or study needs. If you’re school or college age and wanna find a job whilst homeschooling, then check out our article on jobs for under 16s and under 18s here.

Can I study at home if I have kids?

Good news – home studying is especially good for busy parents. This is cause doing something for yourself can boost your self-esteem, stimulate your brain and bring you back into the world of employment with extra skills and confidence. And during that whole process you’ll get to watch your kiddos grow up.

Can I study at home if I don’t have a computer?

You can defo still do a course, but you’ll have to plan a bit more. For example, most local libraries have computers which you can book in hourly slots on so you might have to work according to those timings. It’s not all doom and gloom though since you can build up a good routine this way. Just make sure that the course gives you telephone access to your tutor, too.

Benefits of homeschooling

We’re gonna go old-school and write up a pros and cons list for homeschooling. Some of the pros are: 

• Flexibility: You may have ‘cut-off dates’ for assignments or set dates for exams but how and when you study is up to you. If you wanna study on Tuesday and Thursday nights one week and all day Sunday the next, that’s fine. As long as you get the work done.
• Course materials: “At school, if you miss out on what the teachers have said it’s hard to pick up what you’ve missed. One of the great things about home study is that it’s really useful being able to read back through the module I’ve just done,” says Richard.
• Location: “Distance learning is super convenient if you live in a remote place,” says Pete Giesinger of the Open University. “It’s also ideal if you suddenly have to relocate in the middle of a year since you can continue to study as normal.”
• Cost: Although you have to pay for distance learning, you’re still saving a lot. You don’t have travel and living costs on top of full-time study, and you can work at the same time. The cost of a standard BA degree varies as each Uni charges different fees, and it can still be several thousand pounds but it’s generally cheaper than attending to study in person. Find out more about online degrees here.

Drawbacks of homeschooling

Sone of the things you might wanna consider include:

• Lack of interaction: If you’re the kind of person that enjoys bouncing ideas around with teachers and other students you may find it hard to study alone.
• Motivation: “The benefit of having a teacher is that they can help motivate you. Then again, if you choose to do this course you should be pretty self-motivated anyway,” says Richard.
• Time management: All this freedom can leave you feeling like you have forever to do your work – which can be hard if you produce your best work under pressure. To combat this, you’ll need to set your own targets and put enough pressure on yourself to make sure you stick to them.
• Distance learning must be accredited: There are loads of colleges that are not accredited and, as a result, their courses aren’t legit. So make sure you check this out before enrolling.

Questions about homeschooling? Chat about it on our discussion boards.