Homeschooling or Home Educating your child is a big challenge and while many parents and children thrive, a small handful do struggle. If your child has completed their GCSEs, that's a huge achievement and you should be incredibly proud of yourself and them. However, it does mean that you need to make decisions about where to go next.

If your child wants to go to university, you need to get them through their A-levels first, and that can sometimes be a challenge when homeschooling. A lot of parents don't know how to deal with A-levels and they find it daunting because the content you have to teach is a lot more advanced. However, you do have a lot of different options when it comes to teaching A-levels and there is a lot of support out there. So, what are the options for homeschool families teaching A-levels? 

Teaching It Independently

Some parents might decide to teach the A-level courses themselves, just like you have been in the past. If you have a degree, you can certainly handle the material and there is support out there that you can use. But what about subjects that you have never studied before or just don't feel comfortable in teaching? In many cases, it's not too difficult for you to learn the syllabus and use the support materials from exam boards or online teaching tools to teach the curriculum. But more advanced subjects like maths and science can be a bit trickier. If you are not naturally good at these subjects, teaching A-level courses might be a big challenge. 

When deciding whether to teach independently, you need to consider what A-levels your child wants to take. So, start by helping them choose their subjects and then think about how much you know about them and whether you can confidently teach them. If you don't feel that confident, start thinking about other options. 

Hiring A Personal Tutor

You could also hire a personal tutor to help you with the A-level courses. If your child is happy to study independently and just wants some support once in a while, this could be a good option for you. Although many take local recomendations for tutors, your tutor doesn't need to be based near you because your child can do most of their work at home and then meet them or even have online sessions. Often, parents will use a combination of tutoring and independent teaching. For example, you could hire an A-Level Chemistry tutor but also teach history lessons yourself if you feel confident with that. Finding a good balance is key here, and you have to be realistic about your own knowledge and ability to teach certain subjects. 

Correspondence Courses

The third option that you could look at is using online courses. These are becoming increasingly popular with home educators, and it's easy to see why because of the support they provide. You can find specialised A-level correspondence courses which will help students get their qualifications. They are often run by retired academics who have a good understanding of the subject matter. Your child can take online classes and get access to support and resources to help them complete their assignments. This is a good middle ground if you don't feel confident teaching A-level subjects and you want a more structured learning environment for your child. However, it's still up to you to help your child stay motivated and complete their work on time. 

Enrolling In A Local College

There is also the option for homeschooling families to enrol their child in a local college. Again, this is a popular choice because it allows students to study A-levels in a traditional learning environment that isn't too dissimilar from secondary school. If they have been homeschooled before now and they don't have any experience with traditional educational settings, this could be a great time to get used to a different education style rather than a future culture shock. Attending a college and meeting more people their age can help to prepare them for this transition. 

Teaching A-levels can be more difficult than teaching a normal homeschool curriculum because the content is more complex, but if you know the subject well then you may be able to teach it on your own. However, if it's something that you are not confident in, you should look into other options like tutors, online courses, or enrolling in a local college. Whatever you decide, make sure to include your child and make sure that they are happy with the decision. After all, this beautiful home education journey you've been on has blossomed together.

*This is a collaborative post*