THE number of parents pulling their children out of schools in Bexley to teach them at home has almost quadrupled in 12 months.

As many as 54 youngsters have been withdrawn from the borough’s education system in the last school year – up from just 14 – with parents citing alleged bullying and attendance problems as the main reasons behind turning teacher themselves.

But teaching unions have warned of the damaging effects home-schooling can have.

Parents who shun the classroom must by law ensure their child receives a “suitable” education, but do not need to follow the national curriculum or provide a set number of teaching hours.

Education authorities are legally required to check up on home-educated children, but parents have the right to refuse to “present” their children for monitoring.

Deborah Simpson, principal officer at the Professional Association of Teachers, said: “Our concerns lie with the monitoring process and the quality of education those children who are taken out of school receive.

“While there might be valid reasons, sometimes it might be better to just change school rather than be taught at home.

“It can be a huge burden on parents if done properly and harmful to say the least if it’s not.”

Inspections should be compulsory and parents should have to prove the work they have done to ensure children do not slip through the net, she added.

The Association of Teachers and Lecturers’ Bexley branch secretary. Alan Clement, also a teacher at Cleeve Park School, Sidcup, said: “I think sometimes the full implications are not thought through.

“I know of cases where parents have set up their homes like mini classrooms, but I imagine not every situation is as ideal as this.”

Reasons given for children being taught at home included alleged bullying, attendance problems, parental “choice”, going private, a medical condition, waiting for a school transfer and having just returned from living abroad.

A Bexley council spokesman said: “Parents have the absolute right to educate their children at home and national figures show more parents are now exercising that right.

“The main cause would seem to be a greater awareness of elective home-education.

“Overall, 54 students have taken this option in 2006/07, but this still represents a very small percentage of the total pupil population.”

Have you taken your child out of school for home-teaching? Email

bexleyextra@thekmgroup.co.uk or write to Bexley Extra,

River House, Maidstone Road, Foots Cray, Sidcup, DA14 5RH.