Homeschooling, Online Schools and Hybrid Learning: Isn’t it Time to Think Outside of the Box?
In today’s rapidly changing and diverse world, it is more crucial than ever for educators to adopt open-minded approaches to education. With globalisation, technological advancements, and shifting social norms, students need to be equipped with the skills and knowledge to navigate a complex and interconnected society. By embracing open-mindedness in the classroom and beyond, educators can create a more inclusive and engaging learning environment that fosters critical thinking, empathy, and innovation. It is time to move away from traditional, one-size-fits-all methods of education and embrace a more flexible and adaptable approach that prepares students for success in the 21st century.
The Demand for Alternatives
The latest statistics from the Department for Education (DfE) have shed light on the growing number of children being homeschooled in England. In fact, more than one in 100 children were reported to have been homeschooled during the last summer term, with parents citing lifestyle or “philosophical reasons” for their decision. The data revealed a significant increase in the number of homeschooled children, with 97,000 children being educated at home in 2023 compared to 86,000 at the start of the year.
Lifestyle Choice and Philosophical Preferences
The available data indicates that the increase in the number of children being educated at home due to the Covid pandemic may remain as a long-term trend. Only a small proportion of parents, specifically 4%, mentioned that their primary reason for choosing homeschooling was related to health concerns over Covid. The DfE also published new attendance figures showing the number of children persistently absent from school remained stubbornly higher than pre-pandemic levels, especially among older children at secondary school and those with special needs. The DfE’s survey indicated that one in four families identified “lifestyle choice” and “philosophical or preferential reasons” as the driving forces behind their choice to homeschooled children.
So, what are these lifestyle choices? What are these philosophical preferences?
1. Flexible scheduling: Homeschooling allows families to create a schedule that works best for them, allowing for more flexibility in terms of when and where learning takes place. And why not? Life coaches and educational philosophers focused on prioritising what really matters emphasise the importance of spending quality time with family in order to strengthen relationships and build a strong foundation for future success. We are constantly reminded that investing time and effort into developing meaningful connections with loved ones is essential for overall happiness and fulfilment. This is not a new idea by any means. Take the late Steven Covey’s world-famous 7 Habits of Effective People. Covey’s holistic, integrated, principle-centred approach to solving personal and professional problems encourages individuals to prioritise family time and to make a conscious effort to disconnect from distractions such as work or technology in order to fully engage and connect with those closest to us. By setting boundaries and creating dedicated family time, Covey believed that we can create lasting memories and build strong bonds that will benefit us in all aspects of our lives. The flexible scheduling afforded by Homeschooling and online learning can surely enable this vision to become a reality.
2. Personalised education: Homeschooling allows for a customised approach to education, tailored to meet the individual needs and learning styles of each child. The approach of Benbridge Academy exemplifies the benefits of this bespoke approach to scheduling perfectly. “We understand the need for flexibility when homeschooling your child. That is why we have created a range of different pathways for parents and children to choose, to enable them to focus on the subjects they enjoy and parents are equipped to teach while our experienced and qualified teachers take care of the rest.” Emma Bennett, Principal of Benbridge Academy. Emma goes on to expand upon how this can work.
“You really enjoy teaching your child English, History and Geography and have the knowledge and resources to facilitate independent learning. However, you recognise that it would be beneficial for your child to be taught Mathematics and Science by a qualified and experienced specialist. So, what can we do for you? Once enrolled with Benbridge Academy as a part time student, your child would be scheduled to join the relevant year group when Maths and Science lessons are timetabled. With our three subject package, they would be free to choose another subject of interest, for example Computing or a Modern Foreign Language. PSHE is available to all students in our community and your child would be welcome to join weekly lessons with their new classmates.”
The Movement Away from Traditional Educational Paradigms
Increasingly, schools like Benbridge Academy are thinking outside of the box to enable technology to make education as relevant and personalised as possible. Educators worldwide have long quoted the late, great Sir Ken Robinson about changing educational paradigms. Isn’t it about time we actually did it? Sir Ken Robinson believed that the current educational system is outdated and in need of a fundamental change. He argued that traditional educational paradigms were designed for the needs of the industrial age and no longer relevant in today’s rapidly changing world. Robinson advocated a shift towards a more personalised and creative approach to education, one that recognizes and fosters the unique talents and interests of every individual student. He emphasised the importance of creativity and innovation in education, arguing that these skills are essential for preparing students for the challenges of the 21st century. He believed that the current focus on standardised testing and rote memorisation stifles creativity and limits the potential of students. Instead, Robinson advocates for a more holistic approach to education that values creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Overall, Robinson’s views on changing educational paradigms centre around the idea that education should be more flexible, personalised, and focused on developing the unique talents and abilities of each individual student. He believed that by shifting towards a more creative and holistic approach to education, we can better prepare students for success in a rapidly changing and complex world. If you want to know more, do yourself a favour and experience it for yourself here.
You may think: Why Should Education be Different for Our Children? It never did us any harm.
Because our children are not us. They do not live in an age when communication and socialisation was a matter of pot luck and the cultural hodgepodge of the school playground. Because it is time to stop thinking of alternatives to traditional, Victorian models of education as secondary alternatives as necessitated by the social ills and personal struggles highlighted in the press and time to start thinking about making education relevant, convenient and fit for purpose in terms of 21st century lifestyles and the skills recognised as key 21st century personal and professional success: the ability to use technological platforms independently, interdependently and creatively with heightened emotional intelligence and a problem-solving outlook. Increasingly, these skills underpin the values and mission statements of a growing number of holistic schools who see the future of education in very different terms to the those experienced by parents and grandparents.
‘Our need will be our creator’ (Plato, Republic). Our children’s genuine need is for better, more relevant learning on a platform that enables them and their families to mould more meaningful, bespoke lives. The creation is here at our fingertips with a growing number of excellent alternatives only a click away. As parents, all we need to do is be brave and choose a new pathway for our children. In Sir Ken’s terms, we now have the option to change the educational paradigm with the individual needs of our children at the core of all that we do.
