Here’s a startling fact: mental health issues are now the leading reason parents choose to homeschool their children. Yes, you read that right. According to the latest data from the Department for Education (DfE), more families than ever are opting for home education, and mental health concerns are at the heart of this decision. But here’s where it gets even more eye-opening: in the 2024-25 school year, a staggering 175,900 children were homeschooled at some point, up from 153,300 the previous year. By autumn 2025, that number had climbed to 126,000, with one in six children (16%) citing mental health as the primary reason for leaving traditional schools. To put it in perspective, that’s more than philosophical or preferential reasons (12%), which often dominate the conversation around homeschooling.
And this is the part most people miss: 16% of these homeschooled children also required special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support, and 7% had an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP). This overlap between mental health struggles and SEND needs raises critical questions about how well mainstream schools are equipped to support vulnerable students. The numbers don’t lie—the system is failing some children, and homeschooling is becoming their lifeline. But is it the solution, or just a symptom of a larger problem?
The rise in homeschooling isn’t happening in a vacuum. The DfE notes that while numbers dipped slightly from 137,200 in summer 2025 to 126,000 in autumn 2025, this was expected, as some families secure their preferred school placements during the autumn term. However, the bigger issue remains: 143,500 children were missing from education entirely at some point during 2024-25, a figure Sir Martyn Oliver, Ofsted’s chief inspector, has called a “scandal.” While this number is slightly down from 149,900 in 2023-24, it’s still alarmingly high.
Here’s the controversial part: are we doing enough to address the root causes of these absences? The Children’s Commissioner estimated in 2024 that a quarter of children leaving school for homeschooling had SEND. Both Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission have warned repeatedly that we’re missing opportunities to identify and support these children early on. The Government’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill aims to tighten restrictions on homeschooling, requiring parents to seek local authority consent in certain cases. But will this fix the problem, or simply shift it elsewhere?
Let’s be clear: homeschooling can be a transformative choice for many families, offering flexibility and personalized learning. But when mental health and SEND needs drive this decision, it’s a red flag for systemic failures in our education system. Is homeschooling a band-aid solution, or a necessary escape hatch for families left with no other options? We need to ask tough questions and demand better for our children. What do you think? Is homeschooling the answer, or should we focus on reforming traditional schools to better meet students’ needs? Let’s start the conversation—because every child deserves an education that supports their wellbeing, not just their academics.
