Home Schooling and GCSEs
More families are home schooling their children than ever before. Whether this is by choice or challenge, an increasing number of families are navigating their child’s education at home. For many in this situation, GCSEs, the first public exams that young people sit in the UK can be a ‘pinch point’ with parents unsure how to best manage the process for their child. In this guide we explain clearly how GCSEs can work seamlessly for home-schooled students.
Do home-schooled students have to do GCSEs?
In the UK, home-schooled children are required by law to receive an adequate, full-time education, but they do not have to take GCSEs or any other set of exams. We strongly advise, however, that home-schooled students sit GCSEs. Having a publicly recognised set of qualifications will significantly help a home-schooled child return to school for sixth form, attend university, or develop a career in later life.
Exam registrations
Home-schooled students taking GCSEs will need to register as a private candidate at an accredited exam centre for each exam they are sitting. Exam centres typically charge £150-300 per exam – part of this fee covers the exam centre’s costs, and part goes to the exam board administering the exam. You can find a list of the exam centres which accept private candidates on the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) website.
At Simply Learning Tuition, we register each of our GCSE home school students for all of their exams at an exam centre we trust, at no extra cost.
Thinking about Home Schooling for Your Family?
Choosing home schooling is a complex decision, and every family’s circumstances are different.
We are always happy to discuss your situation, answer questions, and explore whether our approach could be the right fit for your child.
Which subjects to study for GCSEs?
We recommend that children take a minimum of 5 GCSEs – and preferably more, up to about 10. English Language, Maths and Science are compulsory, but from there, a wide range of options are available. When selecting GCSEs, it is advisable to think ahead to the next stages of your child’s education – are they planning to take A Levels or the IB Diploma Programme if they return to school? Do they intend to study at university, and if so, do they have an idea of which subject they might apply for?
If they want to take History and Religious Studies at A Level, they should sit those subjects at GCSE. Or if they have their eye on studying Medicine at university, they should take GCSEs in Chemistry, Biology and Physics.
English
English Language is compulsory at GCSE. English Literature is optional but is very widely taken. We strongly recommend that students take both English GCSEs, unless they particularly struggle with the subject. English Language includes reading comprehension, writing, speaking and listening skills. The Literature GCSE focuses on the analysis of literary writing in poetry, prose and drama.
Maths
Maths is also compulsory for any students taking GCSE.
Science
The final compulsory subject at GCSE is Science. This can be taken either as Combined Science, which is worth two GCSEs, or as individual GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and/or Physics.
Other subjects
There are roughly 60 GCSEs available in the UK, though not all of these can be taken as a private candidate. Subjects which involve coursework or a practical element (like Drama or Art) are very difficult or often impossible to take at GCSE as a home-schooled student. This is because an exam centre, unlike a school, cannot guarantee that the work is the student’s own. Fortunately, for many subjects where some exam boards require coursework, there will be other exam boards which do not.
The following subjects can often be taken by home schooled students at GCSE:
| Biology, Chemistry, Physics | Science Double Award |
| English Language and English Literature | Sociology |
| Business Studies | Economics |
| Geography | History |
| Mathematics | Modern Foreign Languages |
| Psychology | Religious Studies |
GCSE resources for home schoolers
The first port of call for any student being home schooled for GCSEs is their exam boards’ websites. These contain the specification for their GCSEs, past papers, mark schemes and examiners’ reports.
The most common exam boards in the UK are:
–OCR
–AQA
There are plenty of online resources for different GCSEs. BBC Bitesize is always a good starting point. We recommend that these resources should supplement the teaching of an experienced GCSE home school tutor, rather than replace it. GCSEs are too important to risk trying to teach yourself the entirety of the content.
GCSE revision for home schoolers
Home schoolers should start revision early, preferably with 3-4 months ahead of their exams. The specification for the exam board you are following should be your guide. Make a revision timetable, allocating slots to cover each of the topics in the specification. Don’t forget to leave extra time (a month or so) to revisit any topics you struggled to master first time around.
Nearer the exam, it is time to step up your preparation by taking past papers. These are available on the exam board’s website. If you are working with a home schooling tutor, they should offer to mark any past papers which you sit. We recommend that you practise at least four full past papers for each subject, including a minimum of two under exam conditions.
As well as noting your tutor’s feedback, you should read the examiners’ reports and mark schemes for those exams. This will give you vital information on what type of answer gets rewarded and what loses marks. Exam technique is so often the difference between grades and can be hard to master outside of a school environment. Expert advice from an experienced tutor can bridge this gap and maximise your chances of success.
Our full guide to GCSE revision contains more useful advice.
University applications
Parents sometimes ask us whether being home schooled for GCSEs will harm their child’s chances of admission to a good university. The answer is a firm ‘no’. Oxford, Cambridge and other leading universities in the UK and around the world do not mind whether your child’s grades were achieved in school or as a private candidate. In fact, if school is not the right environment for your child, the risk is that they would not get the grades they deserve – and this certainly would weaken their university applications. In this case, a supportive but rigorous home schooling programme is the safer option.
Our approach
At Simply Learning, we have redefined GCSE home schooling, designing and delivering an education that allows your child to thrive beyond the traditional classroom. We believe that when carefully designed and professionally delivered, home schooling can be genuinely transformative for a young person, building academic excellence, intellectual curiosity and personal confidence.
How home schooling for GCSEs works with us
We start with a confidential conversation to understand your child, your family’s priorities and educational ambitions. We then create a tailored curriculum and teaching structure, complete with extra-curricular activities to create a wholly formative experience. One-to-one teaching is then delivered, supported by ongoing academic oversight and exam registration.
Our GCSE programmes will evolve as your child grows, ensuring their progress remains purposeful and aligned with long-term goals.
For nearly two decades, we have worked with many home schooling families for GCSEs, supporting students for a wide range of reasons, including lifestyle choices, elite performance pathways, mentorship and wellbeing purposes.
One family, whose son was recovering from a chronic illness, witnessed a remarkable transformation during his period of GCSE home schooling,
“What has been achieved over the past year has been nothing short of remarkable. It was not an easy task, and I know how much effort, patience, and energy each of you invested along the way. Together, you have done an extraordinary amount of work, and our family is deeply grateful for it.
Beyond the academic progress, you have helped him develop discipline, consistency, and confidence in his own abilities. Most importantly, you showed him that learning can be interesting, rewarding, and not nearly as difficult as it may seem when approached with regular effort and the right guidance.”
Frequently asked questions
Can you home school for GCSEs?
Yes, GCSEs can be taken by students who are being home schooled. To maximise your chances of good grades, we recommend working with an experienced GCSE tutor who has a track record of home schooling students for the specific GCSE exam board your child is taking.
Can you sit a GCSE exam without doing the course?
You can sit a GCSE without having studied it in school. Home schooled students take GCSEs outside of school every year. However, we advise that you study the syllabus thoroughly before registering to sit a GCSE, preferably having been taught it by a private tutor or teacher.
Can GCSE exams be taken at home?
GCSEs can be taken by home-schooled students. However, you will have to attend an exam centre in order to sit the exam itself.
How can I get GCSEs without going to school?
To sit GCSEs outside of school, you will need to register as a private candidate at an accredited exam centre for each GCSE which you wish to take. We recommend that you study thoroughly for every GCSE. A rigorous home schooling programme delivered by experienced tutors is the best option.
Can I do GCSE English from home?
Yes, home-schooled students can sit GCSE English. As long as you study the course thoroughly (preferably with the support of an experienced English tutor or teacher) and revise carefully, you can succeed in your exams. You will also need to register to sit GCSE English at an accredited exam centre several months before you intend to take the exam.
We are renowned for the quality of our Home School Programmes. If you would like to see how Home Schooling with SLT could benefit your child please get in touch. Our experienced team will listen carefully and provide solutions to ensure the best possible outcome.
An Education as Exceptional as your Child
We are widely recognised for the quality of our home schooling programmes.
If you would like to explore how GCSE home schooling with Simply Learning could benefit your child, we would be delighted to discuss your requirements in confidence.