Ever Rising Trend of Elective Home Education in Hartlepool Sparks Concerns from Council Chiefs...

The number of Hartlepool children being removed from school to be educated at home continues to rise, sparking concerns from council chiefs...

12th November 2024

Reports set to go before councillors at an upcoming committee meeting are to reveal a significant increase in the number of children in Hartlepool opting for Elective Home Education (EHE).

In just five years, its claimed the number of children being removed from school to be educated at home has surged from 55 in 2019 to 259 in 2024, with the latest year alone seeing a huge 52.4% rise. This dramatic upsurge is said to be attributed to several factors, including dissatisfaction with local school standards, bullying, and rising concerns over Special Educational Needs (SEN), particularly those being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Autism and Special Educational Needs

The report is set to highlight a worrying trend, detailing that out of the 59 children with identified Special Educational Needs (SEN) in elective home education, 11 have an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP), with autism being the most common primary need.

Autism is said to account for 11 of the identified cases, indicating a lack of sufficient support for these children within the traditional school system, pointing to gaps in local school provisions for SEN & pushing parents to seek alternative, home-based education.

Concerns with Poor-Performing Schools Grows

Dyke House Academy in Hartlepool was ranked one of the Worst on the list for the numbers of pupils being removed from school to be educated at home according to the council report..

The report also sheds light on two of the poorest-performing secondary schools—Dyke House Academy and St. Hild's School—showing alarmingly high numbers of students switching to EHE.

Dyke House saw 43 children leave for home education, up from 26 the previous year, while St. Hild's in the towns King Oswy Drive jumped from 15 to 35. This suggests that parents are losing confidence in these schools' ability to provide a safe and effective learning environment for their children.

Increasing Refusal to Engage with the school, or the council, report highlights

Another issue is said to be the increasing refusal of parents to actively engage with the local council's 'Virtual School team', which supports home-educated children.

In 2024, its claimed 60 families only agreed to communicate with the team in writing, compared to 34 the previous year. This lack of engagement points towards increasing mistrust in the system and highlights the need for better collaboration and support from local educational services the council report says.

The surge in elective home education, particularly among children with autism, is said to reflect much deeper issues within Hartlepool’s education system. The performance of local secondary schools and the lack of adequate SEN support is said to be driving parents towards home education as a last resort, with critics claiming the local council must address these shortcomings to prevent further erosion of trust and ensure that all children receive a suitable, high-quality education.