UK parents say lockdown homeschooling has made them smarter

• Almost a third (31%) of parents say they learnt new things while homeschooling their children 
• Over a quarter (28%) are now more confident helping their children with homework 

British parents say they are now more intelligent because of lockdown homeschooling, with almost a third (31%) admitting they learnt new things while helping their children. 

When schools closed, millions of parents were suddenly forced to take on a teaching role in their homes, but despite the challenges, new research1 by Oxford Home Schooling has found that many adults have come out of it feeling smarter than before. 

One in nine (11%) say home education has made them brainer than they were pre-pandemic and over a quarter (28%) are now more confident helping their children with schoolwork. 

In fact, almost half (49%) of UK parents say they now feel comfortable supporting with homework, which is a significant increase from a few years ago (33%)2. 

During lockdown, men and women were equally likely to homeschool3, but despite mums learning the most new things (34% vs 28%), dads are more likely to feel that they have become more intelligent (12% vs 9%). 

Age is also a factor, with millennial parents (25-34s) the most likely generation to believe that homeschooling has made them smarter. 

Across the UK, adults in Southampton benefitted the most from the homeschooling experience, with over a quarter (26%) feeling cleverer as a result. 

The UK cities where parents are most likely to feel that homeschooling made them smarter are: 

Greg Smith, Head of Operations at Oxford Home Schooling, said: “Homeschooling can be a really positive experience for both parents and children, and although the situation was thrust unexpectedly upon many families during lockdown, it’s great to see that lots of people have learnt something from it. 

“To see if you’ve grown more intelligent since homeschooling, why not test yourself on some primary school homework questions in our new quiz? Almost nine in ten parents can’t get them all right!” 

For more information about the research and to test yourself on primary school homework questions, visit: https://www.oxfordhomeschooling.co.uk/blog/can-you-do-your-kids-homework/