Home Schooling Crisis Hits Deprived Blackpool as National Figures Reveal 38% Surge
Startling new figures have exposed a dramatic escalation in home schooling across England, with one of the country's most deprived areas bearing the brunt of this concerning trend. In Blackpool, a staggering 2.6 per cent of the pupil population – equating to one in every 50 children – is now being educated at home, marking one of the highest rates observed anywhere in the United Kingdom.
National Picture Reveals Sharp Increase
The local data from Lancashire emerges against a backdrop of significant national growth. Official statistics released last week demonstrate that the number of children receiving home education in England has skyrocketed by 38 per cent over just two years. The total figure for 2024-25 stands at 111,700 young people, a substantial increase from the 80,900 recorded for the 2022-23 academic period.
Council officials in Blackpool have voiced significant concerns regarding this exodus from mainstream schooling. Analysis of the local authority's data indicates that the highest concentrations of home schooled children reside within the town's most deprived wards, intensifying fears about deepening educational inequalities.
Underlying Causes and Safeguarding Fears
Mental health challenges, including anxiety, alongside bullying, have been identified as primary catalysts prompting families to deregister their children from formal education. However, there is a growing apprehension that some households, particularly those facing economic hardship, may be allowing their children to effectively drop out of school without possessing the necessary resources or expertise to provide adequate teaching at home.
Victoria Gent, the Director of Children's Services at Blackpool Council, emphasised the gravity of the situation. "While many families who choose elective home education do so thoughtfully and provide a positive learning environment, the overall scale and concentration of children out of school in Blackpool remains a significant concern," she stated. "This can deepen existing inequalities and increase the likelihood that disadvantaged children fall further behind. Schools play a vital role in safeguarding. For children in deprived wards, these risks can be amplified by wider social and economic pressures."
Context of Deprivation in Blackpool
Blackpool's status as the seventh most deprived local authority in England provides crucial context. The rundown seaside town reports that 38 per cent of its population lives in low-income households, while its employment rate of 69.7 per cent lags behind both national and regional averages. This socio-economic backdrop compounds the challenges associated with the home schooling surge.
Historical insights from a 2019 Ofsted teacher survey shed further light on the profile of pupils most frequently withdrawn. The findings indicated:
- 87 per cent of teachers said pupils with behavioural problems were most likely to be taken out.
- 70 per cent noted pupils with low prior attainment.
- 53 per cent identified pupils with special educational needs.
- 42 per cent highlighted pupils from economically deprived areas.
Regulatory Landscape and Calls for Reform
The current process for withdrawing a child from mainstream education in England requires a parent to inform the school, which then notifies the local authority. However, councils lack statutory powers to routinely enter homes or inspect the education being provided. They are merely expected to make contact with families annually to check that core subjects are being taught suitably.
This relatively light-touch regime has drawn criticism, particularly following high-profile cases like the murder of ten-year-old Sara Sharif in 2023. She had been withdrawn for home education before her death, prompting renewed calls for stricter oversight. Legislative change may be on the horizon with the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, currently at the report stage in the House of Lords, which proposes creating a mandatory register for home-schooled children.
Charlotte O'Regan of the Sutton Trust charity underscored the professional challenge, telling the Sunday Times: "Children from low-income households gain the most from being taught by the best teachers. It's important to remember that teaching is a highly skilled profession, and we can't expect everyone else to be able to deliver the same level of education."
Parental Perspectives and the Path Forward
The experience of parents like Pete Summers, a plumber from Blackpool, illustrates the personal drivers behind the trend. He has been home schooling his 16-year-old daughter Tilly for two years following her struggles with panic attacks and anxiety. "I thought I would have to drag Tilly into school, that there'd be loads of paperwork and visits and things, but there was nothing. It was literally, 'I'm taking her out' and they said, 'OK'," he revealed, expressing surprise at the simplicity of the process.
As the national conversation intensifies, the confluence of rising numbers, concentrated deprivation in areas like Blackpool, and ongoing safeguarding debates signals a critical moment for education policy. The proposed reforms aim to balance parental choice with the imperative to ensure every child receives a suitable and safe education, regardless of their postcode or background.
