Increase in home education in Scotland

Increasing numbers of pupils are being withdrawn from state schools to be educated at home with large numbers blaming a bullying "avalanche", according to new figures.

The number of youngsters taken out of the state system in Scotland has doubled in five years, from 352 to 632, according to 26 local authorities who responded to a Freedom of Information request.

But home education groups said the number of pupils learning outside of classrooms could be anywhere from 5,000 to 7,000.

According to the Scottish Government, a total of 703 children were known to councils in 2006-7 as being home educated, representing just 0.1 per cent of youngsters aged five-15. That number does not include children still educated at home after the age of 16.

Surge in bullying behind increase in home education (The Scotsman, 5 May 2008)

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