Education Team Administrator Emily Bourne explores how flexischooling could give many parents a hopeful alternative between full-time school and home education, when a state or private school is willing to offer this legal option
It is often assumed that educating a child involves choosing between two options: sending them to school for five days a week, or educating them at home full-time. But what happens when neither option, on its own, is right or practically possible for a family?
An increasing number of parents, particularly those who have children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) or who want an education that aligns with their religious beliefs, are exploring alternatives to conventional full-time schooling. For many families, flexischooling could provide a hopeful way forward.
What is flexischooling?
Flexischooling is an arrangement in which a child is registered at a school but attends for only part of the school week. During the remaining time, the child is educated at home or elsewhere by their parents. This is not simply a reduced or part-time timetable.
Flexischooling is intended to provide a child with a suitable full-time education, authorised by the headteacher of a school, through a planned combination of school attendance and education outside school.
It is important to know that even though flexischooling is legal in England, schools are not obliged to agree to a request and the decision rests with the headteacher. A successful arrangement usually requires a clear written agreement setting out matters such as attendance, responsibilities, communication, safeguarding and how the arrangement will be reviewed.
Parents looking for this option would first need to approach the school to explore options. For example, a child could be proposed to attend school for three days and then be educated at home for the other two.
Why are parents seeking alternatives?
We have previously highlighted why it can no longer be assumed that the conventional model of full-time mainstream education is able to provide what children need in order to flourish, or even to keep them safe. Christian parents are especially concerned about a school culture where contested ideas about sex and gender may be presented in ways that contradict the biblical understanding which they are seeking to pass on to their children.
For some families, these concerns have led them to pay particular attention to training their children to counter ideas presented at school or to consider home education. For children with SEND in particular, a busy school environment can also be exhausting, and so flexischooling can reduce levels of anxiety for children in these circumstances.
It is clear that it is not always practically possible for families to home educate full-time. A parent may need to work, care for another family member, or manage their own health needs. Others may feel able to educate at home for part of the week, but believe their child would still benefit from specialist teaching and resources which schools offer. This is where flexischooling could come in.
What are the advantages?
One of the attractions of flexischooling is that it can bring together the strengths of school and home education. At school, a child can benefit from qualified teachers, specialist facilities, structured lessons and learning alongside other pupils. At home, there can be greater freedom to teach the tenets of the Christian faith, to follow a child’s interests and calling, to spend more time exploring a particular subject, and learning through more practical experiences alongside the parents or other family members.
There can be considerable flexibility in the arrangements agreed between the parents and the school. Parents remain responsible for ensuring that their child receives a suitable full-time education, as they take into account the educational provision the headteacher can offer from the school.
Benefits for schools
It is easy to view flexischooling only from the perspective of parents and children, but there can also be benefits for schools. For example, schools continue to receive funding for flexischooled pupils who are enrolled with them.
In addition, working closely with families can ultimately lead to stronger relationships and greater parental engagement, where there is effective communication. It may encourage teachers to develop more creative and personalised ways of delivering education that are supported by the parents. Flexischooled pupils may bring independence, creative thinking, self-direction and a range of experiences from their learning outside school into the classroom. Their presence can enrich the education of other pupils in the school.
Practical considerations
There will, of course, be practical questions. Schools need to consider curriculum planning, attendance recording, safeguarding, assessment and communication with parents. Parents should research the subject carefully before approaching a headteacher and make sure they understand their own responsibilities to ensure full-time education, as well as the school’s role in assessing and recording aspects of their child’s development. Schools should also not explore flexischooling without understanding the responsibilities involved, nor should they assume that it will be appropriate for every family.
However, these difficult practical challenges should not automatically become reasons for schools to dismiss it. Most headteachers understand that the purpose of a school is not to make every child conform to an inflexible system. It should be to support parents in helping children receive an excellent full-time education and reach their God-given potential.
A challenge for Christian schools
This presents a particular opportunity for schools with a strong Christian ethos. Many Christian parents would welcome a genuinely Christ-centred education for their children but cannot necessarily afford full-time independent school fees. Others are already home educating and would value the support of Christian teachers and the opportunity for their children to become part of a school community for one or more days each week.
Christian schools should be at the forefront of considering how education can be delivered creatively and faithfully. By being open to the concept of flexischooling, Christian schools can serve families who would otherwise be unable to access their provision. It could strengthen relationships with local home educators and help create wider communities in which parents, teachers and churches work together to disciple the next generation.
Help is available
For those who are interested, we recommend connecting with families who already flexischool and learning from schools with experience of making these arrangements work.
The Centre for Personalised Education Facebook page provides information and advice about personalised education, including flexischooling. You could also make a request to become part of the Flexischooling Families UK Facebook group. The BBC has a webpage also highlighting Home Education stories including a helpful video about flexischooling.
Colwall CofE Primary School and Nursery in Herefordshire provides some helpful resources online which can be of assistance to schools and parents alike. There is a great interview with the school on BBC Sounds. Huxley Primary School in Cheshire is another example of a school which has successfully incorporated flexischooling as part of its provision. (These suggestions are provided only as examples and are not endorsements of the schools or the information and advice they provide).
We also have useful links on our education website, which is designed to equip and encourage parents, teachers, church leaders, and all those interested in or involved in education to play their necessary role in discipling the next generation. The site brings together various resources to support Christian witness across state schools, home education and independent schools, and has many helpful links to partnering organisations.
An Education Revolution
Flexischooling is an option that must be considered by parents, teachers, churches and organisations seeking alternative approaches to education. Across the country there is a movement of Christians who are developing home-education groups, learning centres, small independent schools and thinking creatively with other new initiatives. This is becoming an Education Revolution as increasing numbers of people are asking fundamental questions about the purpose of education, how it can be provided and who should be responsible for it.
On Saturday 24 April 2027, Christian Concern will be holding its next Education Revolution conference at The King’s Centre in Oxford. With the theme ‘Education that Equips for Eternity’, the conference will bring together parents, home educators, teachers, academics, church leaders and those developing new Christian education initiatives. Through talks, practical seminars, and opportunities to meet exhibitors, we want to support and equip faithful Christians serving across the whole educational spectrum.
If you are exploring flexischooling, home education or another form of Christian education, or if you believe your church could play a greater role in supporting families, we encourage you to book tickets to attend the conference and be part of this growing movement.