Hi

I have decided (due to concerns that the school is not providing a sufficient education for my 15 year old son) that I will take ownership of my son's education.

He should be taking his GCSE's next year and now I am to prepare him for that (and research how I exactly do that).

Yes, it was a massive decision but not one I took lightly. The question is can anyone help me with information, suggestions that can help me with this task.

Personally I have a degree in elcectrical engineering and work as a PM for Vodafone UK. My son wishes to continue studying for Maths, English, Science, Art and IT.

Any helpful suggestions would be most appreciated

Do you know, I have never stopped to think about this sort of thing. How will you get his coursework marked and moderated for instance?

I assume the first thing you do is decide which exam board you will want to use for each subject and then visit their website/contact them and ask their advice on how to proceed. Have you done this yet?

Are you willing to pay home tutors in any of the subjects? You might consider paying some on an advisory basis to help you understand the relevant syllabuses so you have an idea of how to proceed. You could even pay them to create a scheme of work for your son in the relevant subject, and perhaps as markers for coursework.

I am guessing here to be honest and there are probably people on here who have actual experience of this sort of thing, but I am pretty sure there is an organisation for parents educating children at home. Have you found it yet?

chris

Your first port of call should be:

Home Education Advisory Service:

http://www.heas.org.uk/

Also take a look at the following:

http://www.home-education.org.uk/menu1.htm

http://www.schoolhouse.org.uk/

http://www.education-otherwise.org/

You should also find this schemes of work site useful:

http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/schemes3/using/?view=get

Thank you both for your comments and to John for some very helpful links

Some of them I am already on, but there were some interesting new ones.

I am waiting to recieve my son's past coursework which should hopefully be today, then I intend to formulate our plan of attack. He has less than a year before his exams so I do need to get this together (initial framework at least) ASAP.

As for tutors, yes, we will be looking for extra help. Although I never considered the option of using tutors as an advisors nor markers and this does appeal.

Thankyou again for your help and advice, if you have any more then please let me know

If your son is to take his GCSE examinations he will also need to be able to attend an approved examination centre - local schools may well be happy to accept 'external candidates', but you will need to enquire about this. Schools usually complete their entries soon after Christmas.

If you want him to do 'mock' examinations as other students do, these also will need to be arranged through your tutors or advisors, and marking and grading of these will then inform you of the level at which he should be entered for his final examinations next summer.

Regarding his coursework - a lot of marks can be lost on this if it is not of a good standard. Coursework value varies according to the subject. If you were unhappy with the school's provision I would be inclined to get the coursework checked over also!

Good luck to you both!