Amanda Owen Opens Up About Homeschooling Struggles as Son Reuben ‘Feels Cheated’

Amanda Owen, star of Channel 5’s hit show Our Yorkshire Farm, has candidly discussed the challenges of raising nine children on a working Yorkshire farm, shedding light on the difficult choices she made regarding their education. Speaking on the Made by Mammas podcast, Amanda revealed that her son Reuben “feels cheated” because he wasn’t homeschooled like some of his siblings.

Reflecting on her parenting journey, Amanda, often known as the Yorkshire Shepherdess, explained that homeschooling was a consideration but not always a viable option for every child. “I did [consider homeschooling all my children],” she admitted. “But as you get older, you gain more confidence. Raven, my oldest, often jokes that I practised on her — that I was still learning how to do things.”

Amanda highlighted how her approach evolved over time. By the time she reached her ninth child, she felt more confident and better equipped to make tailored educational decisions. Social perceptions also influenced her decisions: “Reuben would have loved to be homeschooled, like Sidney,” she said. “But back then it felt kind of beyond the pale — homeschooling was seen as pushing boundaries. Now, it’s much more accepted.”

Despite the evolving attitudes toward home education, Amanda emphasized that her choices have always focused on the needs of each individual child rather than following trends. “We have nine children, each with very different characters,” she said. “They’re not peas in a pod. The goal is to give each of them the best possible start in life, which sometimes means homeschooling some, but not all.”

The Owen family is a well-known fixture in British farming and television, with Amanda sharing an honest portrayal of rural life. Her children — Raven, Miles, Edith, Violet, Sidney, Annas, Clemmie, Nancy, and Reuben — each have unique interests and personalities, making a one-size-fits-all approach to education impractical.

Amanda also touched on the complexities of co-parenting after her separation from Clive Owen in 2022, following over two decades of marriage. Clive now lives next door, and Amanda described their arrangement as peaceful and beneficial for the children. “Being separated removed the friction between us and gave us both space,” she told Fabulous magazine. “That peace has positively affected the kids.”

Through these revelations, Amanda Owen provides a heartfelt glimpse into the realities of parenting a large, diverse family while balancing farm life and public attention.