Leeds Beckett University
Software Engineering Student
Top-Rated GCSE & A-Level Tutor
In England, the legal requirements for homeschooling your teenager are surprisingly simple: your child has a right to a full-time education, but they are not required to take GCSEs or A-levels. The law only states that you must provide an education that is “suitable to their age, ability, and aptitude.”
You do not need any teaching qualifications, you do not need to follow the National Curriculum, and you do not need local council approval. If your child is currently in a mainstream state school, you simply need to write a deregistration letter to the headteacher. That is it—the school informs the local authority, and you are legally ready to start educating at home.
Why Take Exams If They Aren’t Legally Required?
Even though the law doesn’t force your child to sit exams, most home-educating families still choose to take them. Why? Because GCSEs and A-levels are the standard keys to unlocking university places, apprenticeships, and future careers. At a minimum, passing core subjects like Maths and English Language keeps your teenager’s options wide open.
How Do GCSEs and A-Levels Work Without a School?
When you home-educate, you are the headteacher. You are fully in charge of how your child learns, which means you can tailor the pace, the subjects, and the schedule to fit your teenager perfectly. However, when it comes to the actual exams, you will need to handle the admin:
- Pick Your Subjects and Exam Boards: You can choose which exam boards (like AQA, OCR, or Edexcel) your child will use. A quick tip: standard GCSEs often include coursework, which is difficult to manage as a homeschooler because a registered teacher has to supervise it. Because of this, many home-educated teens take IGCSEs (International GCSEs) instead, as they are usually 100% exam-based and hold the exact same value.
- Register as a Private Candidate: Homeschooled teenagers sit their exams as “private candidates.” It is your responsibility to find a local school, college, or dedicated private exam centre that allows external students to sit exams in their halls.
- Book Early and Pay the Fees: You have to cover the cost of the exams yourself. This typically ranges from £150 to £300 per subject, and you need to register them several months in advance (usually by January for a summer exam).
The Massive Benefit of Having a Tutor
Taking your teenager out of school to tackle complex subjects like A-level Biology or GCSE Computer Science can feel incredibly daunting. You might be wondering, “How can I teach them this when I don’t even remember it myself?”
This is where having a tutor is a game-changer. You don’t have to do it all on your own. A good tutor brings expert, up-to-date knowledge of the specific exam syllabus. The benefits include:
- Marking Practice Papers: A tutor knows exactly what the examiners are looking for and can give your teen accurate, professional grading on past papers.
- Providing Structure: They help your child stay on track with a realistic, manageable revision timetable so no topics are missed.
- Reducing Your Stress: It takes the pressure off you as a parent. You get to step back from being the “teacher” and go back to being the parent.
- Targeted Support: Tutors offer one-on-one help, finding exactly where your child is struggling and explaining it in a way that clicks for them.
Setting Up for Success
Stepping away from mainstream schooling is a big decision, but it is a fully legal, highly flexible, and incredibly rewarding path. Start by picking subjects your teen actually enjoys, map out a timeline leading up to exam season, and build your support network. Between textbooks, online homeschooling communities, and tutors, you have everything you need to help your teenager thrive on their own terms.