A MOTHER who home-schooled her bullied son is defending the rights of parents to teach their own children.

German-born Astrid Brand's eldest child, Gregor, was pulled out of school when other pupils turned on him after a history lesson about The Blitz.

She said he was "bored" by school and, since she has been teaching him, he achieved a GCSE A grade in German aged 11 and an A* in French aged 13.

He now attends Thomas Alleyne's High School in Uttoxeter, where he is on the "gifted and talented register".

But Ms Brand fears education chiefs could be given "stronger powers" than the police when dealing with home-schooled children.

Her concerns follow last week's Queen's Speech which revealed plans to give inspectors powers to interview children in their parents' absence.

The controversial proposals come after an independent report, compiled by Graham Badman, from the Department for Children, Schools and Families, concluded the rate of home-schooled children known to social services was "disproportionately high".

However his plans have been criticised by Astrid, aged 40, of Jacks Lane, Marchington, who has home-schooled two of her children, Gregor, now aged 15, and Ruaridh, aged 12.

She also intends to home-school one-year-old Finlay when he is old enough.

She claims the report is an example of "policy-based evidence making".

Ms Brand, who has lived in Marchington for 12 years, will hand a petition, to Uttoxeter MP Janet Dean today – in a bid to stop the plans in their tracks.

Ms Brand said: "I believe home-schooling is the way forward for my children. I believe it gives them a more realistic social life than they would get in school. We organise loads of events and workshops for home-schooled pupils of all ages and demographics, giving them a more diverse mix of youngsters to spend time. They are not suffering."

Gregor, who wants to be a scientist when he has completed his education, started his schooling in Marchington before being educated at home and then going to Thomas Alleyne's.

Ms Brand said the cost of him taking his exams privately was too prohibitive.

Gregor said: "It was a shock to have to go back to school, but I don't think I have suffered from being educated at home."

Ms Brand added: "There really isn't any compelling evidence that children educated at home are suffering.

"Only 25 local authorities used in Mr Badman's research responded to his questions — that is too small an evidence pool to draw meaningful conclusions.

"His report says we need to listen to children's views about how they should be educated, but who's listening to those being educated in schools who would rather explore alternatives?

"It's a parent's responsibility to make sure their children are being educated and most people choose to leave that to schools, which is fine.

"But that might not always be the best way to go about it and children may want something different."