91Èȱ¬

A freedom of information request submitted by 91Èȱ¬ Radio Northampton shows that the number of children in the county who are starting home schooling every year is rising sharply.

In the academic year of 1997 just one child in the county registered for home schooling. By 2008 that figure was up to over 100 and in the academic year of 2011-2012 223 children decided to be educated at home rather than in formal education.

Today there are 433 children who are currently being home schooled in Northamptonshire.

Reporter Elinor Cross met 13 year old Holly Goodman from Wellingborough. Her parents decided to take her out of school after she became anxious, and then anorexic. She is now taught at home by her father.

Stuart talks to Edwina Theunissen, a trustee of Education Otherwise Association Limited - a charity that supports those who are home schooled, to Chris McGovern from the Campaign for Real Education, and to Kate Fallon from the Association of Educational Psychologists.

Also:

• the Desborough company exporting shoes to China
• Wellingborough Council offers fees bursaries to stonemason & carpentry students
• talking ATMS installed in Northamptonshire
• the Cider company nominated in the Northamptonshire Food & Drink Awards
• the World Conker Championships take place near Oundle
• 91Èȱ¬ Radio Northampton’s Laura Cook is the Ladies’ World Conker Runner-Up