It seems that there may be some funding for 14-16 year olds to take GCSE exams in College, in some parts of the country. From what I can gather this seems to be for Maths, English and Science GCSE and the courses generally run over a year.

The Funding is not widely advertised, so you will need get in touch with your own Local Education Authority to see what, if anything, is available for your area. I would also suggest you talk to other home educating families in your local area and find out what others have done.

We know of a few family in at least 3 different LEAs that have obtained funding in some way, shape or form.

There is an interesting discussion on this topic taking place on the HE-Exams-GCSEs-
alternatives-others Yahoo Group.

It seems that one of the most important factor is being able to speak to someone fairly senior at both the College of your choice and also at the LEA.

It appears that there are more schools willing to take home-educated children as private candidates for taking GCSE exams. I am not sure whether that extends to assessing coursework.

This may be a route worth investigating, especially if it extends to subjects such as ICT and Languages.

These can be a little tricky to take as IGCSE exams because there are oral and practical components to them. This, understandably, reduces the number of centres who are willing to take home-educated children as private candidates because it involves a lot more work for them.

It may be worth a couple of phone calls.

Amanda Goldston

Tags: children, exams, home education by Amanda
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The summer weeks seem to be flying past.

Jacqueline has already done a Drama week at a local school and is currently away at Guide camp. She has activities most weeks now until the beginning of September, including a week in the Lake District and another Drama week. We have found another riding stables for her, so riding will be re-commencing shortly.

She is moving up to Rangers in September and will be starting her Duke of Edinburgh Award as well

Stephanie is having a well-deserved rest, whilst waiting for her exam results. She is starting college in September, doing A-Levels.

The girls took some more Speech and Drama exams a couple of weeks ago. Stephanie has now completed her Grade 6 Bronze level, apart from Musical Theatre, which she is taking in November. Without the results of these last exams, Stephanie already has 135 UCAS points towards her University application.

Jacqueline has completed all her Grade 5 sections and is now working towards her Grade 6, Bronze levels.

Amanda Goldston

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We finally received the results of the LAMDA Speech and Drama exams that the girls took in March! We are delighted with the results.

Stephanie got 84% and a Distinction in her Reading for Performance Bronze Grade 6 and 87% and a Distinction in her Public Speaking Grade 6.  That gives her quite a few more UCAS points towards University entrance.

Jacqueline has really increased her marks, with 72% in her Reading for Performance Grade 5, which is a high Merit and 72% in her Grade 5 Solo Acting which is also a high Merit.

Well done, both of you. We are very proud of you!

Amanda Goldston

Tags: exams, home education by Amanda
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We have just had Jacqueline’s 14th Birthday Party. We went to the West Midlands Safari Park and had an absolutely brilliant day.

Jacqueline’s friends were from several different groups, including Home Education, Guides, Drama and her cousins. It was really lovely to see how well everyone got along. Most people did not know each other at the beginning of the day, yet by the end of the day everyone had made new friends.

The Safari Park is home to a terrific collection of animals, including some very rare white lions.

After a tour of the safari park, we had lunch and then Jacqueline was the star of the sea-lion show and got as kiss from a sea-lion!

The children spent the afternoon on the rides in the theme park. When we got  home, we set up the chocolate fountain and that seemed to be greatly appreciated by all.

It was a terrific day with a lovely bunch of kids!

Amanda Goldston

Tags: children, fun, home education by Amanda
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At the moment in the UK, there is, quite understandably, a lot of bad feeling about the proposed new legislation for licensing, monitoring and generally interfering in the lives of home educating families. There is also a huge amount of incensed outrage at home education being blamed for the cruel death of Kyra Ishaq in Birmingham a couple of years ago.

In my view it is important to make our voices of protest heard, as best as we can. However, it is also my personal belief that our biggest weapon is to simply SAY NO, on an individual basis, when some interfering busy-body wants to come into our homes and interview our children on their own. We DO NOT have to comply with their requests, orders, threats or whatever else they may throw at us.

In my opinion, one of the greatest weapons we have in our armoury is to shout the SUCCESS STORIES of our home educated children from the rooftops.

In the US, there have been long term studies conducted over 25 years, which show that home- educated (or home schooled) children score consistently better in national tests, at every level, than their counterparts in school; they go on to have successful careers in all fields; they contribute to their communities and are generally well-balanced, happy individuals.

In the UK, we get accused of abusing and neglecting our children, of not providing a suitable education (according to a recent Times Education Supplement, 45% of home educated children are ot receiving a suitable education) and are told that "high percentages"; of 16-19  year old home educated children are NEETS (Not in Education, Employment and Training) and as families we are harassed and threatened.

In other words, home education does not work, is the most  dreadful thing imaginable for children and should therefore be immediately banned and all children returned to school.

This is the drivel that is fed to the media by the government and they are happy to fill their newspapers, radio and television slots with every bit of negative, dramatic rubbish they can find.

We have been home educating for 3 years now and we have met so many families with success stories in every imaginable area, from exam success, to going to College or University, to success in Drama, Music, Art, Writing, Science, Sport, to awards like Duke of Edinburgh and Arts Award and just about everything you can think of.

I have got so fed up with hearing all the negative about home education that I have decided to set up a new area on this site to record SUCCESS stories of home educated children.

You can find the SUCCESS Stories by clicking the link below.

http://goldstonacademyfortheinsane.com/success/

If you have a success story, I would love to hear it and be able to put in on the website.  The only criteria is that is must be true. The definition of Success is simply a home-educated child accomplishing something they set out to do.

Home Education DOES work for the vast majority of families who undertake it. Instead of defending ourselves by attacking the attackers, lets follow the idea that the "Best form of REVENGE is MASSIVE SUCCESS", let’s tell the world about our SUCCESS stories.

With abundant blessings.

Amanda Goldston

Tags: children, home education by Amanda
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Well, we are back into the swing of a “new term” with exam preparations. Stephanie has 3 IGCSE subjects under her belt  (Maths, Chemistry and Physics – all Higher Extended Level) and we are preparing for the next ones in the Summer.

It is very interesting to compare the papers to the equivalent GCSE papers. The Sciences are considerably harder. In one Home Ed forum someone commented that the CIE (Cambridge International Exams) Chemistry syllabus was virtually identical to the O-Level that he took 30 years before and still has the notes for.

For anyone considering IGCSEs, the content pf the syllabus, as well as past exam papers and mark schemes are available from the examination boards.

You can take most subjects without coursework. Some subjects have an “alternative to practical” paper, which is where you need an understanding of the procedures that you would perform in laboratory situations.

ICT and Languages can be a bit tricky to take the actual exams because they have practical papers  and/or  oral exams and there are fewer centres that can or will accommodate students for that aspects.

We have used CIE for all our subjects, as it is so much easier to arrange exams centres than it is through Edexcel. That is just our personal experience, although others have found ways to do that.

Another great source of exam papers and make schemes is www.freeexampapers.com - they have just about every subject in every qualification from every exam board that you can think of.

It is fairly easy to obtain course books for most subjects, as Amazon stock most of them.

The English is a completely different syllabus to GCSE and consists of reading, comprehension and writing, including summary writing and writing in several different styles.

Most colleges now require 5 or 6 GCSEs or equivalent, including Maths and English, depending on the course. Universities generally recognise IGCSEs as do most 6th form and further education colleges.

I have heard lots of 2nd and 3rd hand stories of home-educated children getting into college or university without any qualifications at 16 or 18, and I have no doubt they are true. However, we prefer to be on the safe side with it!

If you are interested in exams for Home Educated children, there is a fantastic forum that I would highly recommend. There are plenty of people with experience of taking exams and are very helpful.

Have a great day.

Amanda Goldston

Tags: home education by Amanda
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Last week it started to snow, just as Jacqueline got home from making her Christmas wreath, so everything was dropped on the table and Jacqueline, Stephanie, Dom (Stephanie’s boyfriend) and George (Rottweiler) were straight out into the garden for a fairly serious snow-ball fight!

Of course, both Stephanie and Jacqueline ended up on top of the trampoline as a serious amount of snow had gathered up there!

The dog thought it was wonderful fun, although he was not very keen on being dried before he came in the house!

Amanda Goldston

Tags: children, fun, home education by Amanda
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What on earth are Smores, you may be wondering?

These are a very delicious recipe that came through Girl Guides. Apparently they had originally come from some Guides from the USA ad I have to say they are delicious.

Ingredients:

• 2 Digestive Biscuits
• 2 Marshmallows
• 2 large chocolate buttons

Put the marshmallows on a skewer or a cocktail stick and melt them. This was originally done over a camp fire, although we found tea lights to be equally effective.

When they are all goo-ey, spread them on the digestive biscuits.

Then melt the chocolate buttons.  You might be able to get the button onto the skewer or the cocktail stick without breaking it.

When the Chocolate Buttons start to melt, put them on top of the marshmallows and sandwich the two biscuits together. Eat and enjoy!

The reason they are called Smores is because Everyone tends to want “some more”, so smores!

Tags: cooking, fun, home education by Amanda
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Jacqueline has been very busy with Pottery and we have just had a session painting some of the pieces she has made in the last few weeks. The children have also been very busy making Christmas decorations. I am looking forward to seeing those, when they are ready!

This is her Star clock that she made and her piggy bank. Dinosaur painting is next session.

The man who teaches the pottery is an amazing teacher. He really understands the meaning of the word education – from the latin educare – i.e. “to draw out”, rather than “to put in.” He has shown the children quite a few clay techniques and then a;;owed their own imaginations and creativity to take over.

He truly understands that Art is NOT prescriptive and there is not a right or wrong way to do something. How refreshing!

Another FUN day!

Tags: children, fun, home education by Amanda
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Jacqueline has had a brilliant term at Guides. So far the girls have made some really stunning outfits out of bin-bags and other rubbish on the “Junk Fashion Night”, they have had some craft nights, done several badge nights and next week is the “Ready, Steady, Cook!” night.

Jacqueline is now part of the senior patrol of older girls and they have organised this event. The ingredients seem to consist of lots of chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate. Having carefully checked for any allergies  that anyone might have the girls,  in the senior patrol have got a great evening lined up.

This is part of her Baden Powell Challenge badge, which is one of the highest badges in Girl Guiding.

There was a huge turnout of Guides, Brownies, Cubs and Scouts on Remembrance Sunday and Jacqueline was assistant flag bearer.

There is now great excitement as the Unity camp is being discussed.  This is a huge, international camp that takes place every four years.

Tags: children, fun, home education by Amanda
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