hmm... interesting!

Just joined a Yahoo group for people who use Sonlight in UK.  It is a christian curriculum which seems to have a core that encompasses history, geography etc in the Reading, and you add your own choice of english,  maths & science. I am thinking of it for Fred this coming year.  A big conundrum for me is GCSEs - I believe we CAN achieve them, but how much of a priority are they - this is a whole nother subject!  A GCSE is SO narrow these days. i.e. you hardly need to know any history to get a history GCSE, you just need to know this particular, narrow bit of history. same for other subjects.
The luxury of home ed is that you have a chance to educate your child in a broad range of knowledge & understanding, just the opposite of what is achieved at school.
At the moment I feel if each one gets that essential 5 GCSEs at A-C then we can concentrate on them actually learning about the world & how to live in it during the rest of the time.

Ruby is currently studying Maths (her fave) and Spanish (easiest GCSE). The idea is she will study them for a  while, obviously hoping to do them as GCSEs within a year or two. Then move on to English, Science & whatever is required in UK to "Prove you have been educated" or should I say "prove you are educable"?
When does this need to be done? in school we do them ALL AT THE SAME TIME! why? at age 15/16. why? so we can get A-levels. Why? So we can go to UNI. why? so we can get a good job that makes us rich? I've noticed this paradigm doesn't really work any more.
Also is full-time employment & ££ my highest ambition for the children? Of course not. My highest ambition is for them to trust in the Lord with all of their heart.
Financially speaking, gone is the UK  where we go to uni, graduate, get a great job & buy a house.  The kids' bedrooms aren't going to dissolve the moment they reach 18!
I have every confidence that the Lord will direct our paths.