The number of children being taught at home in NSW has ballooned by 65 per cent in four years, with many parents citing bullying, philosophical objections to schooling and a desire for personal learning as reasons for rejecting formal education.

Children being home schooled have increased from 1703 in July 2008 to 2802 in July 2012. Over the same time, the school population of NSW grew by less than 3 per cent.

Emotional decision: Sydney mother Lindy Hadges with Ruben, 15, and Odette, 8. Ms Hadges is educating her five children at home as she believes in a more ''organic, fluid'' style of learning. Credit:Janie Barrett

The secretary of Home Education Australia, Sharyn Grebert, said: ''There is a culture of bullying within our schools. That has had a tremendous impact on a number of home schoolers.''

Noting the increase in home schooling in its 2012 annual report, the Board of Studies found applicants for home schooling who provided a reason for not using school cited ''philosophical choice or individualised approach to learning difﬁculties''.