A home-educated pupil who never went back to class after lockdown told how she is thriving in her new learning environment. Exeter teenager pupil Erin Hough achieved better marks learning at home.
And as reported by Devon Live, she felt so happy being home-schooled she didn't want to go back when her secondary reopened. After two weeks, she convinced her parents to let her continue with full-time home education.
Her mum expected it to last for only a few weeks. But Erin, 15, and living in St Thomas, has made it work with success.
And she says she never wants to go back to school again. "There was too much noise and distractions at school," she said.
"I was learning but I was a bit bored. I feel as though with just one teacher at school it is a bit difficult as there are so many kids in class. I'm glad I went to school for the time I did but I think it was the right time for me to then learn from home.
"After lockdown, I went back to school for around two weeks and realised there's no way it's how I work best. I'm so glad I got that comparison.
"I didn't feel I struggled at all during lockdown; I did better than my usual school work. I realise that's different from other people."
Erin's mum Maxine said Erin excelled in her learning at home. "Her dad and I both work from home so we said we would give it a try because we had seen her working so well during lockdown and she is clever," she said.
"We never thought we would be a home education family. We wouldn't have even tried if it had not been for the pandemic.
"There is a certain picture of home education but Erin is doing everything like her friends but more really such as organising an art exhibition, making YouTube videos and being a bit more creative with her learning. I don't think it would be working if she wasn't self-motivated.
"My main worry was isolation but Erin is now probably sociable more because she has her home education friends, mainstream school friends and plays hockey three times a week. But one of the best things to have come out of this is her nanna, who lives in Wales and has a diploma in physiology, taught her over Zoom during the whole of lockdown.
"It was the cutest thing. It really bonded them and it was really good for her nanna as well."
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Maxine admitted it can be expensive and they get no financial support to help pay for Erin's home education. Erin follows a daily timetable from Monday to Friday of different structured lessons, uses online learning tools, follows each GCSE syllabus and is assisted by a handful of online tutors.
"You don't have to have tutors, but as her dad and I both work we have not got the time to do it with her," said Maxine. "I don't do any teaching.
"We will probably get her older brother to help with her maths because he has just got a grade A in his mock at college. You also have to pay for the exams; it's £200 per GCSE. There's also not anywhere in Exeter she can take them so she has to go to Taunton."
Erin has already taken three exams - GCSE psychology, GCSE English and AS art. For the GCSE exams she gained a grade 7 in both - the equivalent of a grade A - and has passed her art exams. This year she will be taking GCSEs in Spanish and biology and will take the remaining ones next year.
She begins her lessons at 10am and finishes around 5pm. She doesn't have homework and enjoys sport activities a few evenings a week. "It's so much more stress-free," she said.
"I still get all the subjects done my friends do and all the things I want to learn. My motivation is I want to get my GCSES so I will put in the work to carry on with that.
"I enjoy it as well. I love learning and want to go to college and university."
Erin is planning on taking art, business or fashion at college but is uncertain about her choice of subject university. "It will probably be some form of art and something creative," she said.
"I would love to start my own business but I'm not 100 per cent sure what that would be. I also love interior design.
"I am excited about going to college. I think it will be different as I get to do the subjects I enjoy and it's a bit more laidback than school."
When asked if there is anything she misses about school, Erin took a long pause and said: "My friends - but I still get to see them anyway."
As part of one of the gold elements for her Trinity College art award, Erin has to organise an art exhibition which she has called Art and Soul. It will take place Saturday, March 25, at The Birdhouse cade in Pinces Gardens, St Thomas.
A painting she created of Exeter Cathedral will be shown alongside art produced by other young people in the home educating community. There will also be a small table for younger children to learn about art and be creative.
