Home schooling requests almost triple

HOME schooling requests across Tayside almost tripled in the first term of the new school year.

Figures obtained from the local councils across the regions show that 108 home schooling requests were made between August and October.

This is an increase of more than 60 compared to the same period in 2019, when there were 39 applications across the regions.

Parents in Scotland have a right to teach their children at home rather than sending them to school.

If a child is already enrolled in a school, parents have to get consent from their local council to take them out and start teaching them at home.

Dundee experienced the biggest increase in the number of requests with more than eight times as many made this year as in 2019.

Figures from Dundee City Council (DCC) show in the period between August and October 2020, there were 34 requests made for pupils to be home schooled.

Just four requests were submitted in the same three month period last year.

A DCC spokesman acknowledged the role concerns over the Covid19 pandemic has played.

He said: “Parents have a right to educate their children at home.

“During the pandemic we have received a higher number of requests and we talk over the issues thoroughly with each family.

“Every request is dealt with flexibly, so for some home schooling is only a temporary measure.”

Between August and October, there was a sixfold increase in the number of requests for home schooling in Angus.

During the first term in 2019, just three requests were made to Angus Council for children to be taught at home. However, in the same period this year, the number increased to 18.

Home schooling requests in Perth and Kinross this year totalled 19.

In the same period last year just three requests were made.

THE first trees have been planted in the Arbroath Pippins community orchard project.

Springfield Park, near the town’s ancient abbey, was chosen as the first site in a scheme developed as part of a community free food initiative.