❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding home schooling regulations, registration numbers, reasons, moderation, and curriculum requirements, revealing increasing home schooling numbers but gaps in data collection by the Department of Education.
AnsweredQoN 707Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the regulation of home schooling in Western Australia, and I ask: (a) how many children were registered for home schooling in each year from 2020-21 to 2023-24, and what percentage increase does this represent; (b) what are the most common reasons cited by parents for choosing to home school their children; (c) how many home schooling applications have been refused in each year, and on what grounds; (d) what is the current ratio of moderators to home schooling families, and what is the average frequency of moderator visits; (e) how many home schooling families have had their registration cancelled or not renewed, and for what reasons; (f) what specific requirements exist for home schooling families to cover content related to sexuality, gender identity, or LGBTQIA+ issues; and (g) what appeals process exists for families whose home schooling registration has been refused or cancelled?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 November 2025
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Education
Response time
8 days
Answer
(a) This data is captured per calendar year and is collected during the March census.
Year
Number of students registered for home education
Percentage increase from the previous year (%)
2020
4,116
10.6
2021
4,562
10.8
2022
6,151
34.8
2023
6,466
5.1
2024
7,325
13.3
(b) In accordance with the School Education Act 1999 , the Department of Education has no legislative authority to ask parents why they choose to register their child for home education.
(c) The Department does not maintain records of this information.
(d) When a parent registers as their child’s home educator, they assume all responsibility for their child’s education, including developing an appropriate learning program relating to the WA curriculum, providing resources, access to appropriate care and supports to meet the child’s identified needs and interests, and arranging the evaluation of their child’s learning program and demonstration of their child’s progress. As of 30 June 2025, the ratio of moderators to home-educated families was approximately 136.45 families per moderator. A moderator undertakes an evaluation within the first 3 months of registration, and at least once in each 12 months thereafter.
(e) The Department does not maintain records of this information.
(f) There is no specific requirement for a home educator to deliver content related to sexuality, gender identity, or LGBTQIA+ issues. A child's home educator is responsible for the child's educational program from the date of registration. The program must adhere to Western Australian curriculum requirements as determined by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority.
Under section 223 of the School Education Act 1999 , a child's home educator may apply in writing to the Minister for Education for a review of the Director General’s decision to cancel the home educator’s registration. The application for the Minister to review the cancellation decision must be lodged within 14 days of the notice of cancellation.
(a) This data is captured per calendar year and is collected during the March census.
Year
Number of students registered for home education
Percentage increase from the previous year (%)
2020
4,116
10.6
2021
4,562
10.8
2022
6,151
34.8
2023
6,466
5.1
2024
7,325
13.3
(b) In accordance with the School Education Act 1999 , the Department of Education has no legislative authority to ask parents why they choose to register their child for home education.
(c) The Department does not maintain records of this information.
(d) When a parent registers as their child’s home educator, they assume all responsibility for their child’s education, including developing an appropriate learning program relating to the WA curriculum, providing resources, access to appropriate care and supports to meet the child’s identified needs and interests, and arranging the evaluation of their child’s learning program and demonstration of their child’s progress. As of 30 June 2025, the ratio of moderators to home-educated families was approximately 136.45 families per moderator. A moderator undertakes an evaluation within the first 3 months of registration, and at least once in each 12 months thereafter.
(e) The Department does not maintain records of this information.
(f) There is no specific requirement for a home educator to deliver content related to sexuality, gender identity, or LGBTQIA+ issues. A child's home educator is responsible for the child's educational program from the date of registration. The program must adhere to Western Australian curriculum requirements as determined by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority.
Under section 223 of the School Education Act 1999 , a child's home educator may apply in writing to the Minister for Education for a review of the Director General’s decision to cancel the home educator’s registration. The application for the Minister to review the cancellation decision must be lodged within 14 days of the notice of cancellation.
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