Schooled By The World 🌎

✨ Unschooling Around the World with Tilly (and Teegan): Our Family’s Worldschooling Adventure ✨

When we left the UK earlier this year in January, we did something that felt bold—but completely right for us. We took Tilly out of school after just two months in secondary. She’d only just started Year 7, but it was already clear—this wasn’t the right environment for her.

She wasn’t thriving. In fact, she was already becoming self-conscious, comparing herself to others, feeling pressure to “look” a certain way—something we feel comes far too early from Western society and the social dynamics it creates. Her school was incredibly strict, with detentions being dished out like they were sweets. It just didn’t feel like a place for real, inspired learning. It felt like control.

It honestly felt like kids were being placed in schools simply to keep them busy while parents worked themselves into burnout, just to feed back into a system that encourages debt, stress, and never-ending hustle. That wasn’t the future we wanted for Tilly—or for our family.

So we called the school, told them we were leaving, and it was done. The most surprising part? A teacher actually said, "I don’t blame you—can I come too?"

Schools Out….Forever!

Tilly leaving secondary school after 2 months…. ready for a world of education and adventure!

💭 If I Could Go Back...

If I’m being totally honest—I wish I had done the same for our eldest daughter, Teegan (16), years ago.

Teegan also didn’t get on well in school. The rigid routines, the one-size-fits-all structure—it just didn’t suit her at all. We had daily battles just trying to get her out of the house. Every morning felt like a war zone, and it began to put a real strain on our relationship as a family.

Tilly learning how Chocolate is made (Guatemala)

But I stuck it out because I thought I was doing the “right thing.” That’s what we’re told, right? That school is the only way. We’re pressured by systems and threatened with fines or court if we even think about stepping outside the lines. £60 fines for taking your child out of school for a week started to feel like a joke. Travelling is a huge part of who we are—and school couldn’t accommodate that. I didn’t want to lie and say it was a “medical emergency” just to go on a family trip. That’s against my morals.

Now? I’m so grateful that both of our children are out of that system.

Tilly is learning from the world, in a way that is rich, exciting, and deeply meaningful. And Teegan? She’s finding her own path too. She’s exploring apprenticeships while working part-time, and we’re hoping she’ll come and join us on the road soon—maybe part-time, maybe more.

Just because she’s not following the “school-university-job” track doesn’t mean she’s lost. She’s free to create a life that suits her—and that’s something we’re proud to support.

🧠 Yes, There Are Still Plenty of Learning Opportunities

We’re often asked: But how do you make sure Tilly is still learning?

The truth is—learning is everywhere. You just have to shift your perspective.

There are loads of online courses, both free and paid, that you can use to support learning outside the classroom. Whether it’s coding, creative writing, languages, or marine biology (Tilly’s fave!), it’s all out there—you just have to do a bit more digging. It’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all model, and that’s exactly why we love it.

We also explored the idea of worldschooling hubs—centres around the world offering classes, workshops, and meetups for travelling families. But to be honest, we found that most of them cater to families with a lot more money than we have, or to part-time travellers who can plan and pay for set schedules.

That’s just not us.

We’re a full-time travel family, on a budget, with no income coming in at the moment. And we like to keep things spontaneous—deciding on the next stop based on curiosity, not bookings. For us, the idea of locking into a schedule defeats the freedom we came here for.

That said, we totally understand why those hubs appeal to some families—especially with younger kids who might need more structured learning or social interaction. And if it works for them, that’s great!

For us, Tilly already had the best of her Primary education before we left. She had her foundations, and we knew she could build on them in her own way.

🧳 What Tilly’s Actually Learning (Spoiler: It’s Incredible)

Since leaving school, Tilly has been learning in ways that are deeply practical, personal, and full of joy:

• 💰 Currency exchange & budgeting – She manages her own spending and understands the value of money firsthand.

• 🍜 Cooking & foraging – From street food classes to picking fruit off the tree, she’s learning real life skills.

• ⏳ Patience & resilience – When a bus is late, or plans go sideways, she rolls with it better than most adults.

• 💬 Language & communication – She's picking up Thai and basic phrases in local languages wherever we go.

• 🌏 Cultural awareness – From religion to geography, she's learning how different people live around the world.

• 🧪 Marine biology – Her biggest passion. She journals, sketches, and writes about sea life everywhere we go.

• ✏️ English & maths – Yes, these still happen—just in natural, everyday ways that actually make sense.

• 👚 Entrepreneurship – Tilly wants to start a clothing brand! We’re happy to encourage this and will be working alongside her and local makers in Southeast Asia to bring her ideas to life.

Tilly’s Food Technology!

Our first ever food shop abroad (Mexico), trying to find products to make a meal.

World Schooling & Confidence Building!

Tilly pushing herself out of her comfort zone in an underground Cenote (Mexico)

Geography & History!

Tilly exploring Antiguas (Guatemala) rich colonial history and exploring the Museums.

Yes she had a Taco Bell afterwards hence the smile 😂

Learning Language

This is us with a Spanish teacher in El Salvador, we learn language everywhere we go though… when we know where we will settle that’s when we will go more in depth!

Connecting & Friendships

Tilly went on an adventure day with her new friend Izzy from Liverpool! Hopefully many more friendships to come… worldwide!

Cooking class!

Tilly learning how to make a traditional Thailand dish… Som Tom and noodles 😛

Challenge and Overcome!

Challenges come up everyday as we explore… the world offers everything you need to build up confidence and self esteem!

Art & Expression

Tilly often draws beautiful pictures of the wildlife, plants and buildings she has seen along her travels. Her artwork has grown in all directions….not only on paper!

🎓 What About Exams?

Will Tilly take her GCSEs? Maybe. Maybe not.

We’re not forcing anything. If she wants to, we’ll support her. If she doesn’t, that’s okay too. We’ve seen what real-world learning looks like, and it’s so much deeper than textbooks and test scores.

We know plenty of people who did brilliantly at school but ended up lost in adulthood, and others who “failed” at school but built incredible, purpose-filled lives. Success isn’t measured by test results—it’s measured by how much you enjoy and understand the life you’re building.

🤝 Finding Connection Along the Way

The hardest part of worldschooling? Friendships.

Tilly, like any kid, craves connection. In the beginning, we moved too fast and struggled to meet other families. But once we slowed down—spending a month or two in one spot—we found our rhythm.

In Chiang Mai, for example, we found expat communities, teen groups, and other travelling families. Tilly even started forming friendships with local Thai teens, which has inspired her to learn the language and get involved more deeply. These moments of connection make the world feel like home—wherever we are.

🌟 Tips for Families Considering Worldschooling

Thinking of taking the leap? Here's what we've learned:

1. Trust your instincts – If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.

2. There’s no “right” way – You don’t need to follow anyone else's path.

3. Online resources are endless – You can still do "school" in your own way.

4. Worldschooling hubs are great for some, but not all – Budget and lifestyle matter.

5. Let your child lead the way – Their interests will tell you what they need.

6. Slow down – Connection and deep learning happen when you give things time.

7. You don’t need a detailed plan – Curiosity will carry you forward.

8. Education is not just academics – It’s life, and life is everywhere.

🐠 Fun Moments That Count as School (Even If They Don’t Look Like It)

• Tilly uses maths everyday when she is dealing with various currencies.

• She is learning budgeting (carrying cash helps with this).

• She sketched and documented facts of over 50 marine species into her book.

• She negotiates deals with the locals at shops and market stalls (and enjoys it).

• She is always creating something else… soon starting on her business plan!

• She is growing in confidence everyday.

• She is starting to become more self- aware.

There is SO much more too!

We didn’t really know what worldschooling was when we started. We just knew school wasn’t working for us anymore—and that our girls deserved better.

Now? We wake up each day with freedom, curiosity, and gratitude. Tilly is thriving, Teegan is finding her own way, and as a family, we finally feel aligned.

This journey isn’t just about skipping school. It’s about saying yes to life—and trusting that learning doesn’t have to come from a desk.

The world is our classroom. And we’re just getting started. 🌍