Home education in the UK
Around 126,000 children in England were electively home educated in autumn 2025. Whether you have just deregistered or you are planning the full GCSE-to-university path, Lift College offers Ofqual-regulated GCSEs, IGCSEs, A Levels and Access to HE on one platform, with a named UK tutor and clear exam-centre guidance.
Yes. Under Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 parents may educate their child at school "or otherwise". Home education is legal across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with different notification rules in each nation.
Yes. Home-educated children sit GCSEs and IGCSEs as "private candidates" through approved exam centres. IGCSEs are most popular with home educators because they are usually 100% terminal examination with no coursework.
Yes. Home-educated students apply through UCAS as independent applicants. Universities accept GCSEs, IGCSEs, A Levels and Access to HE Diplomas from regulated providers in exactly the same way as school-based qualifications.
Home education is legal across the United Kingdom. The duty to provide a "suitable education" sits with the parent, not the state. You do not need to follow the National Curriculum, employ qualified teachers or replicate school hours. You do need to provide an education that is efficient, full-time and suitable to your child's age, ability and aptitude.
Places the duty of providing a suitable education on the parent. The word "otherwise" in the Act is what permits education outside school.
Local authorities can make informal enquiries about how a child is being educated, but cannot inspect your home or test your child without consent. Most contact takes the form of a written summary or a friendly visit.
The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2025 requires local authorities in England to maintain a register of children not in school. Parents must share the child's name, age, address and a brief description of education. No curriculum, inspection or testing is mandated.
Write to the headteacher to deregister most children. No permission is required. Children at special schools and those subject to a School Attendance Order need local-authority consent before withdrawal.
| Nation | Process | LA consent | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | Write to headteacher; CNIS register required | No (except special school / SAO) | No statutory requirement |
| Wales | Write to headteacher; CNIS register being adopted | No (except special school / SAO) | No statutory requirement |
| Scotland | Apply to local authority before withdrawal from state school | Yes, for currently-enrolled children | Council-by-council; often annual |
| Northern Ireland | Apply to Education Authority for consent | Yes | Yes — annual reviews |
This page provides general guidance. Always check the latest information on gov.uk and with your local authority, especially if your child has an EHC plan or is at a special school.
A flexible primary foundation. Lift College does not deliver primary content directly, but our advisers can recommend complementary providers and resources, then transition your child onto our Key Stage 3 and GCSE pathway when ready.
Build the academic foundation needed for GCSE-level study. Choose subjects flexibly. Our advisers will sequence content with your child's pace, learning style and future GCSE choices in mind.
The most common entry point for home educators. Regulated GCSEs and IGCSEs from AQA and Pearson Edexcel, with a named UK tutor, no exams to start and full guidance on private-candidate exam centres.
Three-A-Level programmes leading to UCAS application. We support predicted-grade evidence and reference writing for home-educated UCAS applicants — a known pain point for first-time families.
For adults who home educated, took a non-traditional path or want to re-enter higher education. The Access to HE Diploma generates up to 144 UCAS Tariff points and is accepted by most UK universities.
Most home-educated learners sit IGCSEs rather than GCSEs. The reason is simple: IGCSEs are usually 100% terminal examination, with no non-exam assessment (NEA) component that requires a registered teacher to supervise and mark coursework. Both are accepted by UK universities at the same grade level.
| IGCSE | GCSE | |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework / NEA required | No (for most subjects) | Yes (in many subjects) |
| Awarding bodies | Pearson Edexcel, Cambridge International (CAIE) | AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, WJEC/Eduqas |
| Where you can sit it | UK private-candidate centres and worldwide (British Council, international schools) | UK private-candidate centres only |
| University equivalence | Accepted by every UK university at the same grade level as GCSE | Standard UK qualification |
| Typical course fee | £395–£470 per subject | £355–£470 per subject |
| Typical exam centre fee | £272–£350 per subject | £261–£316 per subject |
Exam access is the single biggest practical hurdle for home educators. The course is the easy part. Where, when and how your child sits the exam takes planning. The good news: a network of dedicated private-candidate centres now operates across the UK, and Lift College advisers will help you choose one.
Each course at Lift College is tied to a specific awarding body (AQA, Pearson Edexcel or CAIE). The centre you book must be approved by that awarding body.
JCQ publishes an updated list of centres each December at jcq.org.uk. Listing does not guarantee acceptance, and many centres outside the list also accept private candidates.
For summer-series exams, register with your chosen centre by the previous autumn. Late entries are possible but attract penalty fees.
Tutors and Exams operates the largest UK network for private candidates and accepts AQA, Edexcel, OCR and CAIE. Their published fees for 2025/26 sit in the ranges shown below.
The Department for Education provides centres with a £200 grant per private candidate entry. Some centres pass this on. Always ask.
| Qualification | Course fee | Exam fee (per subject) | Approx total |
|---|---|---|---|
| IGCSE (Edexcel / CAIE) | £395–£470 | £272–£350 | £667–£820 per subject |
| GCSE (AQA / Edexcel) | £355–£470 | £261–£316 | £616–£786 per subject |
| A Level | £475–£730 | £485–£730 | £960–£1,460 per subject |
| Access to HE Diploma | Included in subscription | No external exam fee | Tuition-only |
Exam-centre fees are paid directly to the exam centre and vary by provider and exam season. Figures based on Tutors & Exams 2025/26 published schedule.
GCSEs, IGCSEs, A Levels and Access to HE — all awarded by Ofqual-regulated bodies (AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCN London, TQUK, CMI).
Every learner is paired with a named subject tutor based in the UK. Tutors mark work and respond within 5 working days. They can act as UCAS referee.
Study 15 minutes a day or longer weekend blocks. The platform tracks progress and the tutor adjusts to your child's pace.
Parents can be added as observers with a progress view showing grades, tutor feedback and pacing at a glance.
Our advisers help you find an exam centre, explain what private-candidate booking looks like and signpost the JCQ list and Tutors and Exams.
If the platform is not right for your family, request a refund within 14 days of starting and we return the first payment in full.
A large share of UK home educators have moved away from school because of unmet special educational needs. Department for Education data for autumn 2025 shows 16% of home-educated children have SEN support and 7% have an EHC plan, both higher than the school population average. For autistic learners, ADHD learners and those with emotionally-based school avoidance, the calmer pace and one-to-one tutor relationship of online study can be transformative. Lift College does not require an EHC plan or any diagnosis to enrol, and we work with families to adjust pacing, deadlines and assessment formats around the learner.
Home-educated learners apply to UCAS as "independent applicants" — applying without linking to a school. The biggest practical questions are who writes the reference and who supplies predicted grades. Lift College tutors can act as the UCAS referee and provide predicted grades supported by mock-exam evidence. For learners aged 19 or older, the Access to HE Diploma generates up to 144 UCAS Tariff points and is the standard adult route into university for those without A Levels.
| Provider | Indicative price | Delivery model | Exam support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lift CollegeLift College | Subscription — full GCSE / A Level / Access to HE pathway | Named UK tutor, async + scheduled calls | Adviser-guided centre booking; transparent costs |
| Oxford Home Schooling | £14.99/month + £395 GCSE / £475 A Level | Async with tutor marking | Exam-centre finder tool; arranges entries ~£100 |
| Wolsey Hall Oxford | £600–£900 per GCSE over 2 years | Async + tutor marking, optional 1:1 | Guides parents; does not arrange centres |
| NEC | £470 GCSE / £730 A Level (self-study) | Async self-study, structured option adds tutor | Directs to JCQ list |
| CloudLearn | GCSE from £299; bundles £580–£710 inc. exam | Async + unlimited tutor support | Arranges exam centre in bundle |
| King's InterHigh | £5,700+/year (KS4) | Live daily lessons + recorded | Advises parents; does not arrange centre |
Comparison information is collected from publicly available provider websites. Prices and policies change — always confirm directly with each provider before enrolling.
Pillar article covering eligibility, UCAS points, subject choice and the route to university.
Read UniversityHow the UCAS Tariff works and what your home-educated qualifications are worth.
Read FundingStudent finance options for adult learners returning through Access to HE.
Read Free downloadDownloadable PDF covering deregistration, qualifications, exam centres and a 12-month plan.
Read Career guidesLong-form guides on nursing, teaching, social work and other graduate routes from Access to HE.
ReadOur UK-based course advisers will call you back within one working day. We will walk you through the options, exam-centre logistics and university pathway with no pressure to enrol.
