Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the legal requirements for home-educated pupils to sit SATs.

Legislation which requires the administration of the tests at the end of key stages 1 and 2 only applies to state-funded schools.

Independent schools and home-educated pupils can choose to participate in the national curriculum tests if they wish. Home-educated pupils can only do so by registering with a maintained school, academy or other independent school that is participating in the tests.

Parents are entitled to educate their children at home; when they do so they opt out of state education. The education provided must comply with the duty in section 7 of the Education Act 1996 to cause the child to receive efficient full-time education suitable to the child’s age, ability and aptitude, and to any special educational needs the child may have.