Not at School

  • As a child or young person under the age of 18, you have the right to an education, but you don’t have to go to school
  • Your parents are responsible for making sure that you get an education
  • When any decisions about where and how you should be educated are being made, the adults involved should take account of your views, and make decisions that are in your best interests

In Wales, if you are between the ages of 5 and 16, you should be in full time education, but you don’t have to be educated at school. Your parents are responsible for decisions about how you are educated. Most parents in Wales do choose to send their children to school but other options are available.

  • Your parents might choose to educate you at home.
  • You might go to a Pupil Referral Unit
  • If you are ill on a long term basis, you might get some of your education in hospital or elsewhere
  • If you are in youth custody, in a Young Offenders institution, a Secure Training Unit or a Secure Children’s Home you should still have access to education

As long as you are getting an education that develops your personality and your talents, your mental and physical abilities, teaches you about being part of society and encourages you to respect your own culture and other peoples’ cultures, it doesn’t matter where this happens.

In this section of the website, we look at some of the questions you might have about not going to school – home education, pupil referral units, what happens if you’re in detention or too ill to go to school. If you have any other questions about your rights and the law around going to school, you can email us: childrenslegalcentre@swansea.ac.uk