One of the best parts of being a journalist is the chance to explore worlds you would otherwise know little of.

And over the last few weeks, I've had the chance to do so twice (though, unfortunately, neither of those worlds were south of the hemisphere).

The first came from a piece I wrote last week about home educating – parents who choose to teach their children at home, rather than sending them to school.

It's a thorny issue – and I got the sense that parents were wary of coverage, with judgment and stereotypes having left a sour taste.

But, with groundswell of change, it's no longer an issue that can be left in the shadows – in Norfolk alone, the number of home educated children has risen by 20pc in just 12 months (on top of it trebling over 10 years).

It's certainly complicated, which is maybe why past coverage has missed the mark. From parents who are disappointed in the system, feel support for complex needs wasn't enough, believe passionately that being taught at home is the best way forward or felt pressured to leave school, it's a minefield of experiences.

Currently, there's little regulation - and learning varies hugely. While some parents say they have a structured curriculum (one mum said she thought there should be more regulation), others said they focused on child-led activities, museum trips and so on.

I asked several for an example of a typical day – and the majority said I'd missed the point. There is no typical day. But, with little prior experience, it's a fascinating area. And, with the government set to announce change, it's one that's likely to make headlines in the coming months.

The second new experience was at Wymondham College, where I was taken on a tour of its boarding houses, met its boarders and had a taste of life for youngsters studying away from home.

It's a far cry from my experience – my primary, middle and upper schools were, at most, a 10-minute bus ride away, and I was a firm homebody until I ventured to university at 18.

With none of my friends having boarded, it's mainly been films and books that have painted a picture.

And it's another evocative area - the majority of people will have an instant reaction to talk of boarding schools, and, I would guess, many might not be positive.

It was an eye-opening few hours. I met dozens of mature, articulate youngsters who were far braver and more switched-on than I was at their age.

I've broadened my horizons.

Now, if anyone wants to let me explore worlds around the Maldives area, just drop me an email.