Guide · For everyone
Home education numbers: the latest DfE figures
England had 126,000 children in elective home education on census day in autumn 2025. That is about 14,300 more than a year earlier, and roughly 1.5% of children aged 5 to 16.
Figures published by the Department for Education on 15 January 2026. Last checked 10 November 2026. The next release is due in winter 2026.
The headline numbers
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| On census day, autumn 2025 | 126,000 |
| On census day, autumn 2024 | 111,700 |
| At any point in 2024/25 | 175,900 |
| At any point in 2023/24 | 153,300 |
| Started home education in 2024/25 | 78,000 |
| Returned to school in 2024/25 | 28,100 |
A caution about the rise
The Department labels these "official statistics in development". Collection became mandatory in autumn 2024, so part of the increase reflects better counting.
Who is home educated
- Age. Numbers rise with age. Year 1 pupils make up 3% and Year 11 pupils 19%. Over a third are in Year 10 or 11.
- Sex. 52% girls, 48% boys.
- Special educational needs. 16% had SEN support and 7% had an education, health and care plan. Among school pupils the figures are 14% and 5%.
Why families home educate
Councils record a main reason where they know it.
- mental health: 16%
- philosophical or preferential reasons: 12%
- unknown or not given: almost three in ten
Council action
In 2024/25, councils issued about 7,400 formal notices asking parents to show their child's education was suitable. They issued about 2,500 school attendance orders and revoked about 600.
Twenty-two councils issued no notices at all, and 38 issued no attendance orders. Practice varies a great deal from place to place.
What the numbers leave out
These figures only include children councils know about. A child who never went to school may not be counted. The Children Not in School register is intended to close that gap, so expect the totals to rise again once it starts.
What it means for the register
Each of these children, and each provider teaching them for substantial hours, will be touched by the new duties once they are in force.