Homeschooling GCSE: The Complete Guide for Parents & Students

How do GCSEs work if you’re homeschooled?

For those parents and students who choose homeschooling, the good news is that GCSEs can also be prepared at home. While some may choose to purchase a few textbooks and watch educational videos to study on their own, online academies combine homeschooling with a guided syllabus. 

The steps to prepare for a GCSE privately are easy:

1. Enrol for an online GCSE course to get structured course materials and on-demand tutoring support.
2. Once you are ready, sign up for exams and attend an exam centre to get evaluated.

You will be able to study at your own pace from the comfort of your home and still receive the same GCSE certification as students attending traditional schools.

Can you legally homeschool your child in the UK?

Yes, you can educate your child at home in the UK. Although there are no specific regulations for homeschooling, parents must ensure that the student receives continuous education from the age of 5 until the age of 16 (or 18 if they want to access further education) and that the topics learned and the teaching methodology must be effective and age-appropriate.

Can you pass GCSEs without going to school?

Though the traditional path to preparing for GCSEs involves attending school, it can be perfectly done without doing so, both from legal and practical points of view. Some students can opt to study completely on their own, using textbooks and their own materials, or they can enrol in online academies. These academies offer courses that students can take at their own pace from anywhere, ensuring they cover all the topics needed while managing time and material distribution on their own.

How to choose GCSEs? All the questions that your child should answer

Selecting the right GCSE subjects can be quite tricky, as there are lots of options to choose from. However, there are a few questions students can ask themselves to understand which are the best subjects for them.

“Do I have a specific career path in mind that requires certain GCSEs?”

The truth is that GCSEs are the key to accessing higher education and many jobs, so it is great to have some idea of what you want to do in the future. Determining your future career is the best way to select your subjects, as you can choose those that are more related to that area.

“Which subjects are mandatory and complementary?”

After making a decision on your career path, the next step is doing some research. Enter a few university websites to learn about the main requirements of the courses you are considering entering and take notes of their desired GCSEs and A-levels. While most universities only require Maths and English GCSEs strictly, others have more specific requirements for A-levels. Keeping that in mind, it is always a good idea to pick GCSEs that serve as preparation for those future A-levels you will take.

“How many GCSEs do I need?”

Universities mostly require Maths and English GCSEs, together with the other three subjects of your choice, making 5 the bare minimum number of GCSEs. However, most students often take between 8 and 10 GCSE subjects, with 12 being the maximum.

“Are all the subjects I’m considering available in online GCSE courses?”

Online GCSE courses usually offer the most commonly selected subjects, like Maths, English Language, Geography or History.

Though more specific GCSEs also exist, like Media Sciences and Astronomy, these are often available only in specific schools.

Additionally, keep in mind that some science subjects offer a practical endorsement to strengthen your profile, but these are not available in online courses.

“Which subjects are known to be more challenging and time-consuming?”

Whether subjects are easy or difficult is quite subjective and depends on each student’s skills and previous experience.

However, for a more objective analysis, examination boards determine subject pass rates, that is, the percentage of students that pass each subject. Based on pass rates, the most difficult subjects tend to be Combined Science, Maths and English.  

Regarding time, our recommendation is to dedicate 120 study hours per subject, which you can distribute along the time you want. This means you can fast-track the typical 2 years into one, for example. With the right materials and tutoring, all subjects can be fast-tracked and shortened in time!

Home schooling GCSEs exams: All tips you should know to prepare

Best practices for studying GCSEs at home

Those who are already homeschooled know that it takes a lot of discipline, maybe even more than studying in a traditional setting. These are some of the best practices to succeed in studying for GCSEs and A-levels as a private candidate:

• Set clear goals: Define short-term targets to track progress and maintain motivation

• Choose subjects wisely: Select GCSE subjects based on future academic and career plans.

• Create a study routine: Establish a consistent schedule to stay organised and focused.

• Gather learning resources: Ensure access to all necessary materials, especially when self-studying.

• Overcome challenges: Seek support from tutors, online resources, and study groups for a better learning experience.

Best practices to review your GCSEs

Once you have covered all the topics in your syllabus, the time comes to review for your exam. To ensure you don’t miss out on anything:

• Use mock exams – Take practice tests to assess knowledge and identify weak areas.

• Join study groups – Engage in discussions to reinforce learning and clarify doubts.

• Utilise online platforms – Access structured revision materials and interactive tools for effective studying.

• Manage time effectively – Allocate dedicated time slots for reviewing each subject systematically.

• Book an exam centre early – Secure a test location in advance to avoid last-minute stress.

🔎Are you a parent supporting your child in homeschooling their GCSEs? Here are some parent resources to help you out.

Where do homeschooled kids take their exams?

Homeschooled kids must take exams in any exam centre that accepts private candidates. These are often schools that open their doors to external students together with their own, but they can sometimes be difficult to find.

Additionally, you must find a centre that takes exams for those subjects you have prepared for. Fortunately, this process is made easy by CloudLearn.

How to enrol for GCSE exams as a private candidate? 

At CloudLearn, you only need to let us know when you are ready for your exam. You can select one of our associated exam centres, where private candidates are accepted to sit for the subjects we offer.

We will indicate what documents and forms you need to fill in, and that’s all! All that is left is waiting for exam day. A piece of cake!

How much do GCSEs cost when homeschooling?

The cost for GCSE courses and exams varies greatly from one academy to another. At CloudLearn, courses start from £299, and exams start from £280 depending on the subject.

The good news is that, if you bundle course+exam, you will get a special discount, and you get even better deals when booking several courses at once! The best part is that you can pay in interest-free monthly instalments to make this investment easier to pay for.

Extra tips for parents

Homeschooling can be a challenging journey for parents, especially those without a teaching background.

• To create a supportive learning environment, parents can connect with other homeschooling families through online forums and support groups, gaining fresh perspectives on effective teaching methods.

• Encouraging socialisation through extracurricular activities, such as sports or creative courses, helps children develop social and teamwork skills.

• Seeking guidance from educators, tutors, or online teachers can provide valuable insights into effective homeschooling strategies.

• Additionally, combining different learning methods—traditional schooling, homeschooling, and online education—allows for a more flexible and well-rounded educational experience tailored to each child's needs.

Success stories and experiences

Many of our students, and also their parents, have expressed their opinions on our courses on TrustPilot. Here is what they’ve got to say:

• I get an urge of excitement when I log onto my portal to learn. They have lots of useful links for further progression, whether that's going to university or alternative pathways. There are student forums/chatrooms, which is really nice and engaging. Makes you feel a part of a community. 

• As for the learning material itself-, I highly recommend this Learning Platform for anyone considering returning to education. You have access to your own Tutors, who are very quick in responding to any queries about the course and are more than happy to help. The Staff are very polite and will help you out in any way that they can, They truly prioritize your education and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with Cloud Learn.

• Over the moon with our experience of Cloudlearn so far! My daughter is thoroughly enjoying her courses and Keli provides excellent customer service on every occasion that I call! She went over and above to extend her course by a few months and is super helpful with exam queries. The course materials are well laid out and she is confident and knowledgeable and fully prepared for her exams. We will definitely be interested in completing further courses with Cloudlearn in the future. Thank you for inspiring my daughter to learn further!

FAQs

Can I redo my GCSEs at home?

If you have already tried the traditional method and did not get the desired results, you can always choose to study from home through online academies. These offer greater flexibility, as you can study at your own pace, create your own study schedule and access the platform from anywhere in the world.

How many hours do you need to study for GCSE?

Our experts recommend a total of 120 hours of study per GCSE. This number of hours guarantees passing the GCSE exams and even obtaining excellent grades!

Do universities accept homeschooled students?

Yes! GCSEs taken by homeschooled students are exactly the same as those taken in traditional schooling environments, so both types of students are equally qualified to enter university.

How many hours should I be homeschooled in the UK?

Students in the UK, whether attending school or homeschooled, must receive education for a minimum of 36.5 hours a week, that is, 6.5 hours a day. Students can be completely home-schooled, attend an institution or mix both, always completing this minimum time.

Do parents get money for homeschooling in the UK?

No, parents in the UK do not receive any specific funding for homeschooling their kids. They might be eligible for Child Benefit and Universal Credit, but this is also applicable to parents with children at regular schools.