More and more parents are home educating children beyond the age of 11. Elective home education has seen enormous growth in recent years as growing numbers of parents come to realise that education otherwise than at school is legal and beneficial to their children. Home-based learning, often called home schooling, brings with it a host of benefits for children and parents, including flexibility and the opportunity to approach education in a way that suits each child.

At NorthStarUK, senior staff have personal experience of home education through the secondary years, including preparation for GCSE and IGCSE examinations.

Even the most confident parents will feel apprehension as GCSE and IGCSE examinations approach. Many have turned to correspondence colleges or open learning centres. While the curriculum support that these centres offer is often excellent, home educating families have found that the tutorial support is directed more at adult learners. In recent years we have also cultivated excellent relations with an increasing number of Local Authorities.

With NorthStarUK, students can virtually have daily contact with both their tutors and other NSUK students. Our intention is to come alongside and support home educating parents, rather than to replace them.

For each family, we ask that one parent is our point of contact. We will keep you informed about your child's progress via email and in return we expect you to take an active role in the education of your child. Parents have their own area within Moodle where they can discuss matters with other NSUK parents. As an NSUK parent you will be able to email all staff at any time. We aim to reply to your email within 72 hours (during term time and excluding weekends). NorthStarUK can provide you, with detailed information about the progress that your child is making. In addition, annual reports are sent, via email, to all parents Ð for year 11 students these are normally sent at Easter and for year 7-10 students these are sent by the end of July.