Hundreds of Bolton children were educated at home in the last academic year, new figures show.

The numbers of children being home-schooled has risen year-on-year with 470 children taught at home in Bolton in the 2022-23 summer term.

Across the country, around 97,600 children were home-schooled.

Separate figures from the Office of the Schools Adjudicator suggest there were 60,500 in March 2019.

Data suggests the number of home-schooled children has increased since the coronavirus pandemic across England, although figures are incomplete.

But it appears Covid is not behind the rise – the largest reason for children being withdrawn from schools was for philosophical reasons, of which 15,800 parents had chosen to do so.

In Bolton, most commonly parents opted to home-school their children for physical health reasons, with around 70 children doing so.

The reasons for home-schooling were not known in 19 per cent of cases.

Older children are more likely to be taught at home across England – in Bolton, 66 per cent were in secondary school, compared to 36 per cent in primary.

Freedom of Information Request to Bolton Council by the Press Association revealed  in 2019, 254 children were in home education, in 2020 there were 252, in 2021 there were 399, in 2022 there were 427 and in 2023 there were 443 - this is a rise year on year.

Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Cllr Martin Donaghy, said: “Nationally, there was a significant increase in home-schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While Bolton has many excellent schools, there are a number of reasons why families may opt for home-schooling as an alternative.

“This decision should never be taken lightly, and we always urge parents or carers to do extensive research beforehand.

“As a council, we offer support and guidance to families to develop their child’s educational programme.”

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A growing number of parents are now choosing home education because they feel the current school system cannot meet the needs of their children – especially those who have mental health issues or special educational needs and disabilities (Send), according to charity Education Otherwise.

Wendy Charles-Warner, chair of home education charity Education Otherwise, said the Covid-19 pandemic led to more home-schooling as parents “dipped their toes in the water” and became aware of a different route.

Traditionally lifestyle choice was the main motivator for home education, but in the last year she said there has been a “dramatic change” in the reasons given by parents as to why they are withdrawing their child from school.

She told PA: "A really high proportion of parents are now telling us that they’re coming to home education because schools are not meeting their child’s needs.

“We use the term ‘elective home education’ and some of these parents will get quite cross about that because they’re not actually electing to home educate. They feel forced to do so. It is very worrying.”

Olly Parker, head of external affairs at children's charity Young Minds, said schools "can and should be supportive environments for young people".

However, he warned "anxiety, bullying, academic pressure, difficult relationships and a lack of support" can lead to some children avoiding school.

Mr Parker added: "Young people should be able to access support for their mental health when they need it, including in schools.

"Currently, mental health support in schools is a postcode lottery and the Government must commit to ensuring young people can access support in every school in the country."

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said home education is a "big undertaking" and parents should think very carefully before taking their child out of school.

He said schools have very robust policies on bullying and take the safeguarding of pupils extremely seriously and encouraged parents to work through issues with schools.

He added while home school seems to have increased, we do not know the definitive figures as the Government has not introduced a register.

A DfE spokeswoman said: “Parents have the right to educate their children at home, but all children should receive a suitable education regardless of where they are educated.

“We are continuing to work with local authorities to improve their non-statutory registers as well as supporting schools, trusts, governing bodies and local authorities to identify pupils who are at risk of becoming – or who are – persistently absent so they can receive regular and consistent education whether that be in school or at home.”

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