Scotland Flag

Compulsory Education Age

5–16 years old

Number of Home Educated Children

Schoolhouse reports that "based on inquiry numbers and independent research findings, there may be between 5,000 and 6,000 home educated children in Scotland."

Legal Status

Homeschooling is legal and protected by the Scottish Education Act of 1980 and the Standards in Scotland’s Schools Act of 2000. The Scottish Government published its “Guidance on Home Education” in January 2008.

In Scotland, parents or guardians are legally responsible for ensuring their children of school age (5 to 16) are educated, but schooling is not compulsory. This requirement was spelled out in the Education (Scotland) Act 1945 which required the parent of every child of “compulsory school age” to ensure that the child received “efficient full-time education suitable to his age, ability and aptitude,” either by sending him or her to a school or by some other means. Parents normally fulfill this duty by sending their child to school; although other means such as education at home can be used.

Contact Information

HE Byte

HE Byte is a team of parents who are passionate about freedom in education; HE Byte summarizes recent news and events related to home education freedom.

Website: he-byte.uk 
Contact: he-byte.uk/contact 

Schoolhouse

Association for Home Educators in Scotland

Website: schoolhouse.org.uk
Phone: 01307 463120 (ans machine)
Email: contact@schoolhouse.org.uk 

Home Education Scotland

Website: homeeducationscotland.org.uk 

Edinburgh and Beyond Home Education Network

Website: ebhe.org.uk
Email: contact@ebhe.org.uk 
Forum: homeeducationforums.co.uk/forum

TEACH

The European Academy for Christian Homeschooling

Website: christian-education.org
Phone: +44 1793 783 783
Email: TEACH@christian-education.org
Facebook: TEACH The European Academy for Christian Homeschooling


Additional Resources

 Landmark for Children's Rights

Scotland is to become the first devolved nation in the world to directly incorporate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into domestic law.