EO Research 2002

EO Research

EO members responded honestly and openly to the questionnaire on their children's home education experience, that was sent out with the newsletter in 2002, and we much appreciate their generosity in taking part. The results of the questionnaire have not been fully analysed, but we felt that these graphical displays of some of the raw data would be of interest. More light could be thrown on the results, and more information obtained from the questionnaires by, for example, making correlations with ages of children, number in family, ways & reasons for HE, location, etc. but this will take a great deal more work.

Question 1 - pdf file
Question 2 - pdf file
Question 3 - pdf file
Question 4 - pdf file
Question 5 - pdf file

Question 1

1.1

How many children now aged 5-16 are:

a	Home educated and have never been to school
b	Home educated but attended one school
c	Home educated but have attended more than one school
d	Flexi schooling or similar regular arrangement
e	In school now but have been home educated
f	In school and have never been home educated

1.2

How many children aged 4 and under:

a	Not regularly attending pre-school (or only once a week)
b	Not regularly attending pre-school (or only once a week)

Question 2

2.1

Do you expect each child to go to school (again) before the age of 16?

a	No, definitely not
b	No, probably not
c	It’s possible
d	Yes, probably
e	Yes, (almost) definitely)

Question 3

3.1

Reasons relating to specific needs associated with:

a	Dyslexia/dyspraxia
b	Asperger’s/autism
c	Hyperactivity/ADD/ADHD
d	(exceptional) ability/giftedness
e	Specific learning difficulties
f	Health problems
g	Disability
h	Other

The more frequent 'other' responses were: Bullying: by teacher and/or other pupils (large number of people specified this) School Phobia (again another thing specified quite a lot) Religious National Curriculum: too rigid/testing General belief in philosophy of HE Dissatisfied with school/education system Parents choice to be a big part of their child's education Autonomy Child's choice Children should not be put in institutions and smaller numbers as follows: Travel a lot Schools only interested in statistics Freedom, togetherness, enjoyment and more effective learning Hearing problems and was an English speaker in a Welsh school/child punished for speaking English Vision Impairment School location: to far live in rural area Inflexible-explosive-syndrome Child/ren unhappy in school environment/wasn't thriving Social isolation Because I can Kept down in class Class sizes Boredom Following on from older siblings Down's Syndrome Constant detentions for stupid reasons Not one to run with the herd Never considered school Mobile phone mast in playground School work not challenging enough Unimpressed with teachers Very shy Severe speech problems Parents bad experience at school Change in child, for the worse Suicidal child Poor academic results of local schools

3.2

Reasons relating to views about childhood and learning:

a	The age of 4(or 5-11+) is too young for structured learning
b	Children need time to play (not more homework)
c	Children should not be expected to reach age-related targets
d	Home education can meet individual needs better
e	Conversational learning cannot be promoted by school structure
f	One-to-one (structured) learning is more effective than class teaching
g	Children learn by living in the real world
h	Children should be allowed to choose not to attend school
i	Education is about natural, non-coercive, child-led learning

3.3

Reasons relating to views and feelings about school:

a	Time could be better spent
b	Schools focus on teaching rather than educating
c	School is just a childminding service
d	School education is not the way forward for a better society
e	In school children cannot learn to be themselves
f	School is not a safe place (violence, drugs etc)
g	Traditional school values, such as discipline, have been lost
h	Dissatisfied with local school(s) but not school in general
i	Disagreement with specific aspects of the Education System (e.g. assessment, NC, class size)
j	Disagreement with school and the Education System in general
k	Disagreement with school values or the current values of society

3.4

Reasons relating to family lifestyle and views about the role of parents:

a	Religious reasons
b	Education is the responsibility of the parents
c	Parents can do a better job than the Education System
d	Home education is more appropriate for our (family) lifestyle
e	We want to be together
f	We travel
g	We live in a remote location

3.5

Influences relevant to the decision to home educate:

a	Our views were influenced by our own or another person’s experiences of school (Parent, sibling, other relative, friend)
b	We were encouraged to home educate by someone who home educates
c	We were inspired (not specified)
d	We were inspired by a book
e	We were inspired by an article
f	We were inspired by a TV programme
g	We were inspired by a radio programme

3.6

S/he was (formally) withdrawn from school because s/he:

a	Chose not to go to school
b	Was not fulfilling potential
c	Was (very) unhappy with school in general (or developed "school phobia")
d	Was a victim of bullying by (an)other child(ren)
e	Was unfairly (bullied) by teacher(s)
f	Could not learn the way teachers teach
g	Found it (very) difficult to live with school routine
h	There was a specific problem that was not addressed or incident that was not resolved
i	Some other reason

Question 4

4.1

Which one of these statements about approaches to learning would you agree with most (even though there may be elements of others at different times)?

4.1	We follow the National Curriculum (in most aspects but not always at fixed times)
4.2	We follow another curriculum (in most aspects)
4.3	We have our own curriculum (plan or element of structure) which is (sometimes) adult-led (but flexible and negotiable)
4.4	There is a plan or structure which is (mainly or entirely) child-led
4.5	We (as a family) have an idea about how learning might take place and (as parents) help to balance the opportunities and activities
4.6	(Usually) there’s no plan. It just happens
4.7	Adult input is minimal and s/he (usually) chooses approaches to learning that are (mainly) unstructured
4.8	Study is directed by an exam syllabus at present
4.9	It’s impossible for us to make a statement about approaches to learning now. Because there are elements of all/most/several of the above in equal measure at the time.
4.10	We are going through a difficult phase at the moment
4.11	Other approach

Question 5

5.1

Which one of these statements about social contact outside the family would you agree with most?

5.1	Lack of social contact is (or can be) a problem
5.2	Social contact is limited and more would be welcome
5.3	There is (probably) less social than in school but quality is better
5.4	S/he has plenty of social contact but doesn’t seem to have enough friends of a similar age or with similar interests
5.5	S/he has (many) friends who (mainly) are home educated
5.6	S/he has (many) friends who (mainly) attend school
5.7	S/he has plenty of friends (of all ages) some of whom are home educated and some attend school
5.8	S/he finds social contact (much) easier now than when in school
5.9	S/he doesn’t seem to need much social contact
5.10	S/he has recently come out of school and is not ready for social contact
5.11	S/he finds it difficult to socialise and form friendships (autistic spectrum, ADHD, etc. in this group)

Question 5.1 Continued

5.12	Your remote location
5.13	Lack of transport
5.14	Lack of money
5.15	Family circumstances (e.g. needs of younger/older siblings)
5.16	Not enough (EO) families in your area with children of a similar age and similar interest who want social contact

5.2

Do you feel that the information you have given will be useful to EO?

a	Yes
b	No
c	Not sure

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