Taking GCSEs as a Home Educated Child?

The website of SchoolHouse, the Scottish home education charity, says that IGCSEs are commonly taken by home educated kids in Scotland because it can be difficult to do Scottish Highers outside of school. So it sounds like IGCSEs might be your best bet even if you end up going for a local university. Here's a wiki which explains how to do IGCSEs as a home educated candidate. You can join the associated email list to talk in detail about it. I understand that the thing to do is first identify an exam centre which will let you sit the exams as an independent candidate, and then arrange your studies accordingly - the timing of the exams and which exam board is being used will dictate how and when you prepare yourself for them. http://www.nwilts-he.org.uk/he_exams_wiki/

I don't live in Scotland so I can't help much, but I am doing IGSCE's. They are at the same level as GCSE's but you don't have to submit any coursework, you just have to do the exams. I am doing mine as an external candidate at local schools. You can probably do this.