England

 

Clarification on Flexi-Schooling

 

On 22 February 2013, the Government published revised advice on school attendance.  The advice clarified the Government’s expectations on how various school attendance codes should be used to record pupil school attendance.

 

 

Where parents have entered in to flexi-schooling arrangements, schools may continue to offer those arrangements. Pupils should be marked absent from school during periods when they are receiving home education.

 

The reference in the Government’s revised advice on school attendance, that was categorical that a school could not agree to a flexi-schooling arrangement, has been removed.

 

 

Scotland

 

3.6 Flexi schooling

Local authorities may occasionally receive a request to withdraw a child part time from school, e.g. for the child to attend school only on certain days, or for certain subjects.  The feasibility of each request should be considered on its own merit, while taking into consideration that under Section 28 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 ' so far as is compatible with the provision of suitable instruction and training and the avoidance of unreasonable public expenditure, pupils are to be educated in accordance with the wishes of their parents'.  Ultimately, however, it is a decision for each local authority and school as to whether they can support such an arrangement.

 

 

 

Wales

 

2.8 ‘Flexi schooling’ or ‘flexible school attendance’ is an arrangement between the parent and the school where the child is registered at school in the normal way but where the child attends the school only part time; the rest of the time the child is home-educated (effectively on authorised absence from school).  This is sometimes done as a short-term measure for a particular reason. Flexi-schooling is a legal option provided that thehead teacher at the school concerned and, in many cases, the LEA as well,agree to the arrangement.    Further details are contained in Section 4 of this guidance.