Back to School 2025: Homeschooling on the Rise, Exclusions Climb — and How R.E.S.T.O.R.E. is Changing the Story
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As the 2025–26 school year begins, the familiar excitement of new uniforms, fresh timetables, and sharpened pencils is accompanied by a sobering reality. Across the UK, more parents are turning to homeschooling—and at the same time, suspensions and exclusions are climbing.
Behind the statistics are stories of young people feeling unheard, unsupported, and left behind. But there is hope. Programmes like the R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Young Futures mentoring programme, part of Genuine Futures’ alternative provision, are showing what’s possible when we invest in young people rather than give up on them.
Homeschooling on the Rise
- In summer 2023, around 97,000 children in England were home-educated—a number rising year-on-year.
- In Scotland, homeschooling grew by 28% in just one year, with parents citing violence in classrooms and lack of SEND support as the main reasons.
- Nationally, homeschooling has increased by more than 60% since 2018–19, reflecting growing frustration with traditional schooling.
Many parents now see homeschooling in the UK as the only way to provide a safe, supportive environment tailored to their child’s needs.
School Exclusions and Suspensions at Record Highs
- 955,000 suspensions were issued in England in 2023–24—21% more than the year before.
- 10,900 children were permanently excluded, up 16%.
- More than 1.8 million school days were lost to suspensions in just one year.
- Disadvantaged students—those in care, with SEND, or eligible for free school meals—are the hardest hit.
Persistent disruptive behaviour is often cited as the cause, but in reality, these behaviours are usually symptoms of deeper unmet needs.
Why Parents Are Choosing Alternatives
The data paints a clear picture: families are searching for alternatives to mainstream schooling. From homeschooling to “flexi-schooling” and even “world-schooling,” parents are seeking education that is:
Safe – free from bullying, violence, and neglect of mental health.
Personalised – responsive to SEND, mental health, and individual strengths.
Future-focused – preparing children with life skills, not just exam results.
R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Young Futures: An Alternative That Works
At Genuine Futures, the R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Young Futures mentoring programme is an alternative provision for disengaged young peoplewho are being failed by traditional schooling.
Built around seven pillars—Restorative, Education, Shaping, Transformation, Opportunity, Resilience, and Enterprise—R.E.S.T.O.R.E. combines mentoring, youth-led social action, enterprise projects, and community involvement.
It supports 12–15-year-olds who are:
- At risk of disengagement
- NEET (not in education, employment, or training)
- Care-experienced
- Living with SEND needs
Real Impact: From Disengaged to Re-engaged
- One participant who was on the verge of becoming fully disengaged is now running a youth-led enterprise supported through Genuine Futures.
- Another, once isolated and struggling with anxiety, re-engaged in learning after hands-on mentoring and community projects.
- Several young people have gone on to full-time work, apprenticeships, or started businesses of their own.
A shining example is We Shine Any Car, a youth-led social action enterprise run in association with The Scrappers. It equips young people with real business skills, teamwork experience, and a sense of pride in their achievements.
Instead of being written off as “excluded,” these young people are being supported to re-engage and thrive.
Back to School, But Not Back to “Business as Usual”
This September, as classrooms reopen, we must confront the reality: traditional education is failing too many. Rising exclusions and homeschooling rates are not just statistics—they’re red flags.
Families and young people need alternative provision programmes that restore confidence, resilience, and purpose. Programmes like R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Young Futures prove that with the right support, every young person can shine.
Final Thought: Back to school should mean back to hope, not back to crisis. To achieve that, we must invest in alternative provisions that value young people not just as pupils, but as future leaders, creators, and contributors.
To find out more, refer a young person, or partner with us:
hello@genuinefutures.co.uk
https://genuinefutures.co.uk/