Bullying, unmet special needs education, and system pressure appear to be some of the likely causes of a rise in homeschooling rates

Ministry of Education data shows 11-thousand 400 children had an exemption to home educate last year - twice that of 2001.

National Council of Home Educators government liaison Cynthia Hancox says there are concerns around educational outcomes.

Hancox says resources are stretched, teachers are stressed, there are more children with additional needs and the system isn't keeping up.