School in its traditional form didn't work for me – so I decided to homeschool myself

After lockdown, I started to struggle in traditional education. I was midway through Year 9 when school returned to normal. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to do the work, or that I didn’t want to be there – I just couldn’t concentrate. In every lesson, I focused more on how my anxiety was making me feel than what the lesson was teaching.  

My attendance began to slip. When I started Year 10, I was barely attending school and, when I did, I wasn’t learning anything as I was so behind. Teachers began to reach out, questioning why I wasn’t coming to school. My attendance got so bad my mum was fined and we were given a court order. 

I was often described as ‘lazy’ and ‘apathetic’, when really there was nothing more I wanted than to do a full day of learning without my mental health taking over. I wanted to be seen and supported by school. I suggested many ideas, such as a reduced timetable, but these were all denied. This left me with no option but to leave. I was pretty much homeschooling myself already, so I decided to make it official – and avoid the legal trouble. 

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Leaving school was sudden, scary and unpredictable. I was lucky to have my Youth Zone, which made sure I didn’t fall behind socially. I fear what I would have become without their support. I studied maths and English at home and chose two new subjects: sociology and psychology. I almost entirely taught myself, buying revision guides and learning through those.

I passed all four GCSEs with grades four and five, which I know is great given the circumstances, but without the necessary support, I didn’t achieve as high grades as could have. 

My experience in education was difficult and definitely abnormal, but I know I’m not alone. More than 150,000 children missed at least 50% of their lessons last year. Absenteeism figures have never been higher, and attendance rates have declined massively post-lockdown.

One in five children is persistently absent from school, and just as many have diagnosed mental health needs. There are 1.5 million kids struggling to attend school.  

The traditional education system is not a one-size-fits-all model. Schools and the government must do more to support young people through the struggles they face daily – to help them get back to class or find alternative solutions like I did. 

I hoped to study business studies at college, but I struggled to earn a place. I either didn’t have enough GCSEs or high enough grades. I practically begged the college to let me in and had to convince them that I was capable of meeting their standards. Hesitantly, they gave me a place. 

Since starting in September, I have exceeded everyone’s expectations. I have received the highest grade possible in all assignments and exams. I achieved a grade in my exams which only 4% of the entire country receive. I am now on target to get a D*D*D* and will use this to go to university next year to study youth work. 

I have surprised a lot of people who didn’t believe in me. When properly supported, young people can achieve anything. The issue was never my capability, motivation or determination. It was that school in its traditional form did not work for me.  

Since Chloe wrote this piece, the college that barely let her in has given her a Student of the Year award. Congratulations, Chloe!

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