Elective home education
Islington has seen a rise in elective home education, with parents citing school issues, while Greenwich is set to discuss children and young people.
In November 2026, Islington reported a 10% increase in children being electively home-educated, rising from 342 to 377. This represents 1.5% of the borough's school-age children. Councillor Sheila Chapman, Executive Member for Children, Young People & Families, stated that while some families choose home education for philosophical reasons, a significant driver is problems at school where parents feel their concerns have not been addressed.
The Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel of Greenwich Council is scheduled to meet in November 2026, with elective home education on its agenda. This follows a meeting in March 2026 where the panel noted the Quarter 2 Performance Monitor for 2025-2026 and an update on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Elective Home Education refers to the practice of parents choosing to educate their children at home rather than sending them to a formal school. Councils monitor this practice as part of their responsibilities for children's education and welfare, with numbers in Islington slightly above the national average in November 2026.
Key facts
- The number of children being electively home-educated in Islington rose by 10% in a year. Source
- In November 2026, 377 children were electively home-educated in Islington. Source
- This represents 1.5% of Islington’s school-age children. Source
- Councillor Sheila Chapman stated that problems at school are a significant driver for home education in Islington. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on, with background from Wikipedia. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 10 November 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.