Home Schoolers- anyone else?

tyllwyd

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Thanks for the feedback Are the IGCSEs done online or at a center? By what kafkat says, you still have to find an exam center to take the final exam?

You have to find an exam centre where he can sit the exam (and you need to get that organised a good time ahead because they will need to get your son registered to take the exam). You probably should join a home education forum because people there will be able to give you advice on where to look to find an exam centre - my daughter did hers at 3A tutors, but there are probably cheaper options out there.

kafkathecat

I know lots of home ed teenagers who took their GCSEs a year later at 6th form college. Many run courses of 5 GCSEs in a year. This is then all free and would give your son a year to enjoy life and learning again.

Mojisola

kafkathecat wrote: »

I know lots of home ed teenagers who took their GCSEs a year later at 6th form college. Many run courses of 5 GCSEs in a year. This is then all free and would give your son a year to enjoy life and learning again.

Or at an FE college which is quite a different atmosphere to school and easier for some young people who have had problems at school.

kafkathecat

Mojisola wrote: »

Or at an FE college which is quite a different atmosphere to school and easier for some young people who have had problems at school.

Oops. yes sorry, that is actually what I meant. You would think I would know the correct name as my son is at one. 6th forms were just 6th forms back in the day.

WantToBeSE

Thanks. Yes i think that is the way i am trying to go with him. Our local Adult Ed center takes from ages 16+
However, they do only offer 3 GCSEs, which are English, Maths and Spanish.
I might look into where he could do a Science GCSE, although it looks like i would have to pay for that.

I think that to get into most FE courses (if thats what he wants to do) then they normally require English, Maths and Science at GCSE level. Although i cant see him ever wanting to do FE, his SA is far too bad at the moment, i hope that he will be able to cope with it at a later stage.

This year will be all about getting his confidence back, and getting him to enjoy learning, and more importantly to enjoy LIFE and not feel so anxious and depressed.

WantToBeSE

So, i sent off the email asking the school to de-register my son this morning.
Apparently, it takes up to 2 days for it to be officially done. I have asked if we are able to have his coursework, so that i know where he is at with his learning and also so that he can carry on with it at home.

We have written the ground rules and a time table and also he has an induction at the gym, so that he gets some exercise and learns to be around people again without any pressure.

I have lots of things planned for him,like visiting the Museum, Art Gallery and other historical places,which will all aid his learning

Brighton_belle

I just want to wish you well OP. It's sounds like you are doing absolutely the right thing for your son.

WantToBeSE

Brighton_belle wrote: »

I just want to wish you well OP. It's sounds like you are doing absolutely the right thing for your son.

Thanks Bb. I have joined some HE FB groups, and they have been so helpful. Its nice to know i am not the only person doing it.

dharm999

Hope it all goes well for you.

We took our son out of school when he was 6, he just hated school, and getting him there was an ordeal every day. We thought we would try HE for a little while to build his confidence. We followed quite a structured path, and had books to follow the national curriculum. After a few years, we found an online 'school', where he had the chance to learn in a more structured way and he thrived. He eventually did IGCSEs at a local education centre set up by the Council for kids who had dropped out of mainstream school for a variety of reasons, e.g getting pregnant and having a baby. somehow the council tracked us down, and the education officer was fantastic. He sorted out the exam centre but we had to pay the exam fees. He did 8, or 9, IGCSEs, and got A or A* in them all which was amazing. He then decided he wanted to go to the local 6th form, which was doing IB at the time, which really suited him. We worried that he might have problems settling in but everything was fine. In the end he got enough points to go to Edinburgh to study history, and he is loving it.

Overall it was a struggle, and at times we wondered if we were doing the right thing but in the end you have to trust your instincts as you know your child. It will be difficult but there were some really good days which made up for the difficult ones. Good luck and try to enjoy the journey, who knows where you might end up!

themull1

To all those who homeschool, do you feel confident that you understand what you teach your kids, especially the older ones? The times that my daughter has brought homework from school that i didn't understand!!

How can you confidently teach various subjects to exam standard when you aren't a teacher and have exams/qualifications in that subject?

I would have maybe liked to homeschool my kids but don't trust my own intelligence to do a good job. Do the books that you get tell you how and what to do?