BRADFORD has seen a surge in children being home-schooled over the past five years, figures have revealed.

In 2013/14, the number registered stood at 278, but this surged to 688 to 2017/18.

The data, provided by Bradford Council, shows a year-on-year increase, with 372 in 2014/15, 450 in 2015/16 and 667 in 2016/17.

But this increase hasn’t come without its problems and a new Council report, due to be discussed on Wednesday, has revealed concerns over a number of home-schooling cases.

Bradford Council has said that if it thinks a child is at risk it will take “robust action” and that it works with schools, partners and communities to ask why a child needs to be home educated.

A report to the Children’s Services and Overview Committee says: “Overall from January 2016 – January 2018 EHE (Elective Home Education) registered pupils had risen by 63 per cent.

“The rise is more prevalent in secondary aged pupils largely due to high numbers of pupils becoming EHE from KS4 secondary education believing this was a route into college education.

“Primary pupils have increased by 16 per cent and secondary has seen a 94 per cent rise.”

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The report says that during 2017-18, there was a rise of three per cent, which is not as significant as in recent years.

It adds that the increasing trend has led to an increase in resourcing from the Education Safeguarding Team.

“The EHE team has challenged increases in EHE through formal meetings with the principals and head teachers of the schools concerned,” it says.

“This has resulted in reduced numbers of pupils becoming EHE from these schools.”

Earlier this year, the T&A reported on Ofsted's announcement that it would consider the issue of "off rolling" on visits. The phrase refers to the practice of schools getting rid of pupils who are likely to bring performance scores down. This could be either through excluding them or encouraging them to be home- schooled.

The report also reveals a rise in School Attendance Orders (SAO). These are initiated when “informal enquires” have determined there is “insufficient or unsuitable education” taking place.

In 2015/16, no SAO was issued, but since September 2017, 42 of the orders have been pursued.

When SAOs are issued, there is a 15-day period where evidence must be provided that a child has been registered with the school listed in the order or that a home education is being given. If not, this could lead to a fine or prosecution. Home-school cases are risk assessed using a traffic light system.

A snapshot from October this year indicates that 147 were rated as red, 124 were amber, 131 we green and 85 were white.

Within this, two were on Child in Need plans, seven were known to the Youth Offending Team, fifteen had an Education Health and Care Plan, eighteen were in receipt of Early Help and 78 were receiving Special Educational Needs support.

The red rating can indicate a number of problems, for example a safeguarding or child protection concern, involvement of children’s social care, the child may have committed an offence, suitable education is not taking place or the youngster may have been attending college but has been taken off roll due to behaviour or attendance.

Speaking about home-schooling, Councillor Imran Khan, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for education, employment and skills, said “Making sure that children are safe and receive a high quality education are top priorities for the district.

“This is why we are working with schools, our partners and communities to ask why a child needs home education. “Where a child is being home educated, we need to make sure they are safe and receive a good quality education.

“If we think a child is at risk, we will take robust action.”

According to Government information, parents must make sure their child receives a full-time education from the age of five, but the national curriculum does not have to be followed.