Read the article and choose the correct answer, A, B or C.
HOME SCHOOLING
Full-time education in the UK is compulsory from the age of five to sixteen, but this doesn’t have to be in a school. Around 50,000 children are educated at home. This is called ‘home schooling’.
Parents take their children out of school for different reasons, like illness and the need for special care, or because the distance to the nearest school may be too far. Some children are simply unhappy at school and others may find that they have failed to make progress over a long period of time. Whatever the reason, they’re allowed to study at home, although inspectors regularly check how they are getting on.
Josh and Alex haven’t been inside a school for two years but they haven’t neglected their studies. They follow timetables they worked out with their mother. She’s responsible for teaching them Maths, Science, History and Geography. Their father teaches them English and IT, and they study languages online, ‘We have lessons with Dad in the evenings and at weekends,’ explains Josh.
The family live in a remote part of Wales. ‘The boys weren’t unhappy at school but they spent so much time getting there, they were too tired to learn,’ says their mother, Pam. In the end we decided to try home schooling. So far, it’s been a big success.’
One big advantage is that older students can study subjects they enjoy in more depth. For example, Josh is studying Physics at university level, with his dad’s help, and Alex, is a talented musician.
There are disadvantages too. ‘Social isolation is something I worry about,’ says Pam, ‘being away from people of their own age group. But they both have friends who live locally, and in the summer they go away to summer camps, where they have no trouble mixing with people and making friends.’
1 According to the article, some children who don’t
go to school
A may be breaking the law.
B may be unable to attend because of their health.
C may be too intelligent for the local school.
2 The study timetables that Josh and Alex have at home
A are taught in a similar way to classes at school.
B are taught at different times from a school timetable.
C are mainly taught by their father.
3 Their mum explains that the boys stopped going to school because
A they felt they weren’t making any progress.
B they both disliked the school environment.
C they found the journey there very difficult.
4 The article suggests that home schooling is good for older children who
A would like to learn more about a particular subject.
B are good at studying by themselves.
C know what they would like to study at university.
5 What is one disadvantage of home schooling for the boys, according to their mother?
A She’s concerned they won’t meet many people their age.
B She’s sad that their friends live so far away.
C She’s disappointed that they have problems finding friends at summer camps
