Welcome to the Schoolhouse
Important Notice: Read Before Proceeding
Constitutional Foundation and Legal Status
Home education in Scotland is fully legal and supported by national legislation. Under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, parents have the legal duty to ensure their child receives an education suitable to their age, ability, and aptitude. The Scottish Government officially recognizes the right of parents to educate their children at home, making Scotland one of the most clearly defined regions in the UK for home education rights.
Parents whose children have previously attended a public school must obtain formal consent from their local authority to deregister them for home education. However, if the child has never been enrolled in a state school, no consent is required. Scottish law does not mandate a specific curriculum, nor does it require standardized testing, though local authorities may inquire about the provision of education if there are concerns.
Examinations and Qualifications
While there is no official national validation system for home education in Scotland, students can still pursue academic certification through options such as:
- Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA): Home-educated students may sit National 5s, Highers, and Advanced Highers as private candidates through registered centers.
- GCSEs and A-Levels: Although not part of Scotland’s national system, these UK-wide exams are available through private exam boards like Edexcel and AQA and may be pursued by Scottish home-educating families.
- Open University and college access: These paths are often used by older students preparing for further education.
>> Families are responsible for coordinating exam registration with local centers. There is no requirement to sit for exams, but many do so to prepare for post-secondary opportunities.
How SchoolhouseTeachers.com Supports Scottish Families
SchoolhouseTeachers.com helps families create a strong, well-documented home education experience. Our platform offers Christian worldview resources, curriculum, and planning tools to support your educational goals in Scotland.
- Use our Letter of Intent to Homeschool Template when communicating with local authorities.
- Use our Letter of Withdrawal from Public School when deregistering your child from a state school.
- Build year-long academic plans with our Education Plan Builder.
- Track grades and attendance online using Applecore Record Keeping or offline using tools from the Schoolhouse Gradebook.
READY TO BEGIN?
>> Explore the Learning Pathway Options
>> Contact Our Support Team with Questions
SchoolhouseTeachers.com is here to walk with you as you educate your children at home in Scotland. Discover a flexible, Christian platform built for today’s home-educating families.
Demographics and Motivations
Home education in Scotland has grown steadily over the last ten years. Government figures show that the number of children educated at home more than doubled from 2011 to 2021. The increase accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to rise as families seek more personalized, flexible, and values-aligned education options.
Scottish families choose home education for many reasons:
- PERSONALIZED LEARNING: Parents can tailor instruction to fit their child’s strengths, needs, and interests.
- CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW: Some families choose home education to align academics with their Christian faith.
- SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT CONCERNS: Home education allows families to avoid bullying, overcrowded classrooms, or misalignment with their values.
- FLEXIBLE LIFESTYLE: Families appreciate the freedom to travel, volunteer, or pursue unique learning opportunities.
- ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE: Home education allows for a pace and depth of learning not always achievable in traditional school settings.
Educational Approaches
Home educators in Scotland use a wide range of approaches:
- Structured “School-at-Home”
- Eclectic or Semi-structured
- Charlotte Mason or Classical Education
- Child-led or Unschooling
- Hybrid Models (using online tools and in-person enrichment)
SchoolhouseTeachers.com supports this diversity with flexible, online, self-paced curriculum and Christian-based resources that work with any of these approaches.
Challenges and Opportunities
Families in Scotland may face a few challenges:
- Local Authority Oversight: While the law supports home education, local authority approaches may vary.
- Exam Access: Finding a center that accepts private candidates may require early planning.
- Community Building: Fewer in-person co-ops exist in rural areas, but this is changing.
Yet opportunities are expanding:
- Online learning communities and courses
- Increased awareness and public acceptance of home education
- Greater flexibility post-pandemic
With the right tools and planning, Scottish families can provide a rich, legally sound, and deeply personal education experience at home.
Support Networks
Scottish home educators benefit from both national and local support:
- Schoolhouse-Based Co-ops (where available)
- Online Scottish Home Education Groups
- Christian Home Educator Networks
- Social Media-Based Resource Exchanges
These networks foster collaboration, encouragement, and practical help.
SchoolhouseTeachers.com: A Comprehensive Resource
✔ All-in-One Home Education Platform
- Complete PreK–12 Curriculum
- One Family Membership Covers All Children
- No Per-Subject or Per-Student Fees
✔ Tools for Success
- Customizable Planning Forms (Education Plan, Letter of Intent, and Withdrawal Templates)
- Record Keeping & Transcript Tools
- Lesson Planning and Scheduling Support
✔ Enriched Learning
- Access to 25,000+ Family-Friendly Streaming Videos
- Faith-based video content for Bible study, parenting, and family learning—available through our streaming partner
- World Book Online Access ($250/year value!)
- Our license with World Book Online provides members with free access to this premium encyclopedia (a $250/year value).
- Christian Worldview Integrated Across All Subjects
Special Lifetime Membership Offer for Scottish Families
As home education continues to grow in Scotland, families can now take advantage of a special Lifetime Membership offered by SchoolhouseTeachers.com. This one-time purchase provides permanent access to all curriculum resources, planning tools, and community features.
Important Disclaimer:
SchoolhouseTeachers.com provides curriculum, planning tools, and organizational resources to assist home-educating families. We do not provide legal services nor guarantee approval of home education applications. Families must ensure their home education program complies with Scottish regulations. Always consult local authorities for official guidance.
Final Thoughts
You’ve got this! Home education in Scotland is absolutely possible, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Backed by clear legislation and growing community support, Scottish families can confidently provide their children with a high-quality, personalized education at home.
SchoolhouseTeachers.com supports Christian families homeschooling internationally—including those in Scotland—with flexible curriculum, planning tools, and a community of encouragement.
With the right tools, structured planning, and encouragement, you can build a learning experience that reflects your values and meets national expectations.
Let’s get started!
Blessings,
The SchoolhouseTeachers.com Team
Get Everything You Need—Join Today!
By becoming a SchoolhouseTeachers.com member, you’ll gain access to:
✔ THE EDUCATION PLAN BUILDER: Create and download a structured homeschool plan.
✔ THE LETTER OF INTENT TEMPLATE: Draft and download a formal home education notice.
✔ THE FULL COURSE LIBRARY: Choose from 100s of courses for all subjects, PreK–12.
✔ APPLECORE RECORD KEEPING: Track assessments, grades, and progress in one place.
✔ TRANSCRIPT TOOLS (Annual & Lifetime Members): Generate transcripts to document coursework for college or career.
Everything you need to homeschool with confidence—no extra fees or surprises.
Join today and homeschool with confidence!
Most of the courses on SchoolhouseTeachers.com are presented in English. However, you can translate any page on our website into many major languages using your browser’s built-in translation feature. To do this, click on the three dots or three lines (menu) in the upper right corner of your screen and select “Translate . . .” from the options.
Looking for homeschool support in other countries? SchoolhouseTeachers.com offers Christian homeschooling resources and curriculum to families across the globe. Explore our international homeschool pages for country-specific guidance.
