How to use Bitesize for home education - ages 11-16

Yes, the Bitesize website has a huge range of guides to help children learn and revise various subjects, with quizzes, videos, games and podcasts for a multimedia approach. Bitesize can help no matter how you approach your home education practice. This guide will direct you towards the materials you might find useful.

There are lots of revision resources on Bitesize to help your child if they’re taking GCSEs or other exams.

Our GCSE revision collection is a great starting point with links to useful preparation materials for popular subjects like maths, biology, chemistry, physics, combined science, English literature, English language, history, geography and more.

For quick reference of the exams schedule according to examining board, take a look at our GCSE exam dates page.

The Bitesize quizzes page has lots of exam-style questions with useful feedback to help your child answer questions correctly. The page also contains quick-fire quizzes for popular subjects with over 1,000 free questions based on past papers.

If you and your child would prefer to choose a specific topic, there are interactive practice quizzes across a range of subjects and topics.

BBC Bitesize have collaborated with BBC Sounds to produce a series of educational podcasts. The podcasts cover learning points, key quotes and top tips for answering exam questions. They offer audio learning which is perfect for children who struggle to learn through reading.

Download and listen to the podcasts for English literature, biology, chemistry, physics, plus our special series of podcasts for study support and careers advice.

Bitesize has a collection of games designed for children aged 11-14. They can practise their maths skills with Divided Islands and conduct online science experiments in the Atomic Labs.

In Planet Planners children can undertake geographical missions or they can investigate eras of interest as one of the History Detectives.

The BBC Bitesize app contains flashcards, quizzes, learner guides and more revision resources, all available for free!

The app could be a crucial tool for home education as it allows children to take brilliant Bitesize content with them wherever they are.

Download the Bitesize app for Android devices or the Bitesize app for iPhone and Apple devices.

Bitesize has a huge offering of interactive guides with quizzes, videos and explainer texts covering a broad range of subjects. The Bitesize website uses school-based terminology but we’re certain you’ll find plenty of useful resources that your child can use for home learning.

Have a look through maths, biology, chemistry, physics, English, history, geography, religious studies, modern foreign languages, and many more subjects.

If you have decided to educate your child in Welsh, Bitesize has a selection of Welsh language subjects and topics here.

Visit the Bitesize GCSE page to see a full range of subjects including maths, English literature, English language, biology, chemistry, physics, geography, history, computer science, business, art and design, languages, and many more.

For each subject, you and your child will be asked to choose their exam board. This ensures that all of the study guides, quizzes, video and audio materials are entirely relevant to the programme of study you’re following. All Bitesize content has been made in collaboration with educational experts with close reference to the UK curriculum.

If your child is undertaking their studies in the Welsh language, visit the TGAU page for a range of subjects and topics.

The Bitesize study support site has lots of articles focusing on study skills like building resilience, using flashcards and variety of study.

There’s also a valuable wellbeing offering focused on themes such as anxiety, self-esteem, emotions and family relationships.

Plus many more articles which can really help your teen’s mental health and wellbeing.

The Bitesize Careers site is full of useful tips and advice to help your teenager whether they’re planning their future career, deciding what to study or just curious about the world of work.

There are hundreds of job profiles which explain the realities of working in sectors such as healthcare and frontline services, science and technology, law and government, sport, media, and many more areas.

Alternatively your teen can investigate jobs that use their favourite educational subjects, whether that’s science, computing and ICT, English and drama, art and design, PE, or any other subject.

Will your child be spending some of their time in a school setting or perhaps returning to school after a period of home education? If so, be sure to check out our starting secondary school page which has top tips and advice for both parent and child on what to expect and how to alleviate anxiety.

BBC Bitesize for Teachers is a specialist resource for curriculum-accurate learning materials.

Though intended to be used by teachers in a classroom setting, the resources include video clips and lessons which could be used as prompts or discussion points during your home education sessions.

BBC Bitesize for Teachers Secondary has learning materials for subjects like English literature, English language, history, geography, biology, chemistry, physics, maths, plus PSHE, relationships, sex and health education.

The BBC Bitesize home education collection is designed to support you and your child’s learning at home with free resources for early years and foundation stage (EYFS), primary and secondary-age students.

Bitesize Parenting is the go-to place for the whole parenting community to find stories, expert advice and fun activities.

If your child has special educational needs and / or disabilities, be sure to check out the Parenting SEND collection. Bitesize also has a collection of Sensory Stories, an immersive video series that transports you on unique sensory adventures, for children with additional or complex needs.

For more information about home education, these BBC News articles cover the rise in families deciding to educate their children at home and, from 2021, the impact of Covid on home education.