TEACH (The European Academy for Christian Homeschooling) was set up to encourage and support the home education of children using the Accelerated Christian Education curriculum.
Introduction to TEACH
The Academy's Principal is Arthur Roderick, and the manager is Alastair Kirk who is supported by an administrator. There are academic consultants connected to TEACH to supply academic help if needed.
The Academy
· Provides the administration necessary for those starting home educating with ACE including training, a handbook, diagnostic tests and prescription, and contact with an Area Representative - a more experienced home schooler not too far away.
· Is always available for help by letter, telephone, fax or email. Most matters can be dealt with by the main office staff, but more academic questions can be answered by the academic consultants. The help can be administrative, academic, more general or pastoral help from experienced home educators. This vital role takes up much of the time of the office staff.
· Provides admission onto the International Certificate of Christian Education (incorporating the National Christian Schools’ Certificate). This is an alternative to national exams.
· Provides discounts on PACEs and other curriculum materials
· Organises Regional Seminars in different parts of the country, usually held on a Saturday. It also organises an annual Home School Conference; this is a three day affair held for the last few years in the grounds of Quinta Hall in the Shropshire countryside just before the European Student Convention which ACE homeschoolers are also encouraged to participate in.
· Provides a membership card which allows free access or reduced admission price to a number of museums etc.
· Keeps members informed by an information sheet and a quarterly magazine - "At Home"
· Has for rent to enrolled families copies of the videos essential to certain of the later stages of the curriculum, such as Biology, Algebra and Spanish.
· Provides regular - usually annual - family consultations to encourage, help or discuss any problems or concerns.
· Will provide any other help and support it can when required.
I would like to introduce myself as the manager of TEACH.
I consider this role as a privilege and I look forward to the continuing challenge.
Note for parents
It is important that the decision to home educate is a joint decision with both parents in agreement. Although mothers usually do the day-to-day schooling, the father should still have some involvement. This can be by, say, marking the PACE tests to have a third party assessment and to keep the father up to date with what the children are studying. If possible, he can also get involved by giving out the Congratulations slips or by checking the children in areas where he may have expertise.
First things first
When you are making or have made your decision about whether or not to educate your child at home you will need to:
• Pray at some length over the decision to home educate.
• Receive a copy of the TEACH Prospectus and Application Form.
• Chose to use the ACE international curriculum and return the completed Application Form to TEACH.
• Arrange an appointment with either a TEACH Area Representative or a member of the TEACH team.
• Fill in the TEACH Enrolment Form and return it, together with your family Registration Fee.
• Receive the package of TEACH Training materials together with the handbook
We would love to help you in any way. Normal working hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Maranatha House,
Unit 5,
Northford Close, Shrivenham,
SN6 8HL, UK
