Homeschooling a teenager can feel like a very different chapter of homeschool life. When the kids are younger, it’s easy to lean into crafts, games, and hands-on learning, and we have tonnes of printables on our site that support those early years. But when you’re supporting an older child through exams, qualifications, and big life decisions, the focus naturally shifts. The teenage years bring new challenges, new needs, and often a lot of questions about time, structure, and what learning should really look like at home.
We’re sharing this because we’ve recently started homeschooling one of our older kids ourselves. As parents, we’ve been pulling together resources for our own use and realized other families might find them helpful too. Homeschooling a teenager looks different for every family, but having the right tools makes a huge difference.
Why homeschool your teen?
There are so many reasons families choose homeschooling during the teen years. For some, it’s about mental health, confidence, or burnout from school. For others, it’s about flexibility, a better learning pace, or supporting specific interests and strengths. The teenage years can be intense, and homeschooling can offer breathing room, space to regroup, and a more personalized approach to learning.
Homeschooling teenagers also allows learning to feel more connected to real life. Teens can go deeper into subjects they care about, work around part-time jobs or family commitments, and learn skills that genuinely prepare them for adulthood. It’s not about recreating school at home, but about supporting teenagers as whole people during a really important stage of life.
Homeschooling a teenager in the UK (and beyond)
Many of the resources below are based on the UK curriculum, which makes them especially useful if you’re homeschooling a teenager in the UK. That said, even if you’re based elsewhere, these tools can still support learning in a meaningful way. Skills like math, reading comprehension, science, and critical thinking cross borders, and plenty of families around the world adapt UK-based resources to suit their own homeschool.
Homeschooling for teenagers often involves mixing structured resources with independent study, online qualifications, and real-world learning. You don’t need everything to come from one place, and you don’t need to have it all figured out at the start of the year.
Homeschooling schedule for a teenager
One of the biggest questions parents ask is how to structure a homeschooling schedule for a teenager. The short answer is that it depends on your teen. Some teenagers thrive with a clear daily routine that looks a bit more like school, while others do better with a flexible weekly plan.
Many families find it helpful to focus on a few core subjects each year, then build the schedule around those. Shorter, focused study sessions often work better than long days at a desk, especially during the teen years. Homeschooling gives you the freedom to adjust the pace, take breaks when needed, and spread learning out in a way that supports both education and family life.
Online Learning Resources for Homeschooling Teenagers
Online resources can be incredibly helpful when homeschooling a teenager, especially for subjects where you want clear explanations, practice, and feedback.
IXL
IXL Online is one we come back to again and again. It’s great for math and English, and it allows teens to work at their own level while clearly showing progress over time. It’s especially useful if you want something structured but still flexible.
BBC Bitesize
BBC Bitesize is another fantastic free resource. It’s designed around the UK curriculum and works well for revision, explaining tricky topics, and supporting independent learning. Many teenagers like that it feels familiar and easy to navigate.
Oak Academy
Oak Academy is another really useful option to have in your homeschooling toolkit, especially during the teen years. It offers free, structured lessons that follow the UK curriculum and work well for teenagers who like clear explanations and a sense of progression. We’ve found it helpful for dipping into specific topics, revisiting things that didn’t quite click the first time, or adding a bit more structure when needed. It’s easy to use at home, works well alongside other resources, and gives teens the chance to learn independently while still feeling supported.
Live Online Classes
If your teen enjoys learning with others, it’s also worth looking into online classes. Platforms like Outschool offer live, interactive classes on academic subjects as well as creative and interest-led topics. This can be a great way for teens to connect with other kids while still learning from home.
Text Books and Workbooks
CGP Books are a staple for a reason. Their revision guides and workbooks are clear, approachable, and very teen-friendly. They work well alongside online learning and are especially helpful when preparing for exams.
Other helpful resources to consider
Your local library is an underrated homeschooling resource, especially for teenagers. Libraries often carry study guides, exam prep books, and novels that support English and literature studies. Many also offer quiet study spaces, clubs, or workshops that teens can join.
It’s also worth finding out about local homeschool groups or teen-focused meetups. Learning alongside other teenagers, even part-time, can make homeschool life feel more social and balanced. Local groups can be a great source of support for parents too, especially when navigating the teenage years.
Preparing Your Homeschool Teen for the Real World
Homeschooling a teenager isn’t just about academics. It’s also about preparing them for adult life. Skills like managing time, taking responsibility for learning, communicating clearly, and making decisions all matter just as much as exam results.
Homeschooling gives teens the chance to learn at home while still engaging with the wider world. Whether that’s through volunteering, part-time work, online courses, or independent projects, these experiences all count and help teenagers build confidence for the future.
Final thoughts on homeschooling a teenager
Homeschooling teenagers can feel daunting at first, especially if your homeschool experience so far has been with younger kids, or if you’ve suddenly made the decision to pull your child out of mainstream school.
But it can also be incredibly rewarding. The teen years are a time of growth, change, and discovery, and homeschooling allows families to support that journey in a way that feels intentional and connected.
We’ll be sharing more resources as we continue this stage of our own homeschool journey. If you’re homeschooling a teenager, or thinking about it, you’re not alone, and there are so many tools out there to support you and your teen through these years.
