CHILDREN of school age being taught at home in the Borders has sky-rocketed over the last seven years, new statistics reveal.

According to the figures acquired by Educational Freedom, an organisation which supports parents who decide to eschew the state system, home education has increased by 770 per cent.

Educational Freedom’s joint founder Cheryl Moy submitted Freedom of Information requests to scores of educational authorities throughout England, Scotland and Wales, asking for data and other information relating to home education.

She was told in a response from Scottish Borders Council that, as of August this year, 148 children from 120 households were being home taught.

Figures provided by the local authority in a separate FOI request lodged in 2022 showed that just 17 pupils were receiving their education at home in 2017. The statistics for subsequent years were: 2018 – 67; 2019 – 53; 2020 – 41; 2021 – 73; and 2022 – 110. The 2024 figure for neighbouring Dumfries & Galloway is 185 children from 153 households.

Data from Scotland’s education authorities suggests more than 2,200 children are currently being schooled at home, up 40 per cent in two years.

Earlier this year the NISAI Educational Institution said the increase was due to “lower educational standards and more classroom violence”.

An Educational Freedom spokesperson said: “We really don’t think there’s any one reason, but awareness of home education being an option is probably the most important factor.

“Years ago parents forced unhappy children into school, kept trying to fight for SEN [Special Education Needs] to be met, but now there’s so much more knowledge about the choice, and people are starting to home educate.”

Educational Freedom has supported tens of thousands of home educators, engaged with the majority of local authorities, participated in government consultations, and provided information to the Department for Education.