It’s widely acknowledged that the traditional school model isn’t the best fit for every child. But there is an alternative, and it’s not just home schooling, which has carried on even after the lockdowns. With online schooling, families are finding a new pathway through education, without crowded classrooms and rigid timetables.
This online learning option aims to support everyone, from students who want to learn at a different pace, or for whom mainstream schooling has been a poor fit, to families who want extra flexibility to allow for travel and work.
One such online school, King’s InterHigh, offers a full British curriculum from ages seven to 19, including International GCSEs, A-levels and the first online international baccalaureate (IB) diploma. Lessons are taught live and interactively, and are available for students to watch later.
When 16-year-old Millie joined King’s InterHigh in year 8, she was struggling in a conventional setting and seeking an environment that embraced her neurodivergence. Online schooling offered the flexibility and support that she needed to thrive. “Right from the beginning, King’s InterHigh had a huge impact on my life,” she says. Last year she sat her IGCSEs and achieved seven grade 9s – including the highest mark in the world in IGCSE English literature. Because each lesson is recorded, Millie could revisit them at her own pace, and with help from her teachers, deepen her understanding of difficult topics.
Millie is unequivocal about how much of her success was down to King’s InterHigh. “I honestly do not believe I would have achieved such great IGCSE results and this English literature award without the opportunity to study with King’s InterHigh,” she says, adding that she loved that the school was flexible, and the lessons were shorter, with free periods in between for independent study or to take a break.
Now studying A-levels in history, politics and German, Millie is considering university and possibly a year of work experience in Germany. Her story shows how the tailored, flexible learning environment at King’s InterHigh can not only unlock a student’s academic potential but enable their personal growth.
Mirko (year 8) struggled with anxiety and the social side of schooling before joining King’s InterHigh, where he went from being shy and apprehensive to confidently interacting with classmates and even speaking in front of groups. Enrolling in the school’s Enhanced Support Services, where he took part in workshops in social skills and anxiety management, was “transformative”, according to his mother, Emanuela. “King’s InterHigh is just perfect, it’s a godsend,” she says.
For international, expat or travelling families, online learning is invaluable, allowing their child’s schooling to fit in seamlessly with their plans. King’s InterHigh offers timetabled, live lessons across three time zones (the UK, Middle East and South-east Asia) and lesson recordings are always available.
Online learning has helped young people deal with everything from school anxiety to mental health challenges. The model also supports students with additional needs, from special educational needs to health-related absence or experiences of bullying. Online schooling enables smaller group sizes, fewer distractions, and a timetable that works with, rather than against, the individual needs of students.
Millie describes not just a positive learning experience, but a warm and nurturing environment where her self-confidence blossomed. “I feel that you can learn so much about yourself and who you are through having time to think, reflect, and act freely without worrying that others are judging you,” she says. “My education was not stressful but enjoyable … King’s InterHigh enabled me to thrive.”
Find out more about King’s InterHigh and how its flexible, personalised teaching makes a world of difference
