School can be challenging for anyone. Long days, homework demands and lengthy commutes can leave little room to breathe. But for the young people we see on our TV screens or cheer for in stadiums, balancing studies with the spotlight is a whole different ball game.
As a young Arsenal player, Betsy, now 15, had training sessions three times a week and when combining that with traditional school education, it meant scheduling conflicts were constant. Throw in multi-day tournaments and international trips and it was clear that rigid timetables weren’t flexible enough for the unpredictable nature of a career in football.
For actor Amelia, one of the stars of Netflix’s acclaimed drama Adolescence, location shoots and auditions meant frequent absences from school. Even with tutors and chaperones on set, it wasn’t enough. “They weren’t in the lessons, so they couldn’t really tell me what I’d missed.”
Betsy and Amelia eventually found a solution through word of mouth: King’s InterHigh, a global online school offering a full British curriculum. For Amelia, who joined in year 10, the impact was immediate. Gone were the days of patchy emailed worksheets and falling behind. When she spent six weeks filming, she was able to keep up with all her subjects from the set. She’d use downtime between scenes to study and everything was in one place. At last, she didn’t feel like she was constantly catching up.
Betsy can attend lessons live and, when busy, catch up with class recordings. As a result, she has “more energy” as she doesn’t have to rush from school to training. “Now, in between lessons, I can go to the gym or football one-to-ones. Mentally it’s helped a lot.”
Founded in 2005, the school delivers education to pupils around the world through live and virtual lessons, which are recorded and available whenever needed. Teachers provide tailored support, while “Reflect” tutors help students manage their schedules and pressures.
The online school isn’t just about fitting academic studies around other commitments, it focuses on helping students thrive, with personalised support, interactive and tech-led lessons and caring teachers.
Cole, another actor, who recently took his GCSEs, admits he used to dread maths in his mainstream school. The weekly timed tests loomed over him, he says. But he went on to do four hours a day because “it’s genuinely fun”. He’d never have discovered that he had a knack for maths if it wasn’t for the freedom King’s InterHigh has given him to learn at his own pace.
He credits the teaching, highlighting the resources and advice provided. “I’ve never felt I had to choose between acting and learning. They trust me to do both.”
For Cole and his younger brother Bastian, also an actor, flexibility is everything. Their schedules are unpredictable. Castings, filming and overseas shoots can come up at short notice, so being able to study anywhere, and revisit recorded lessons, is invaluable.
Parents are closely involved too. Through the parent and carer hub, they can see attendance, record absences, update information, review their child’s feedback or reports and book communication periods with teachers.
In fact, many parents say the detail and frequency of contact far exceed what they’d experienced in traditional schools. Beyond lessons, students can join virtual clubs, assemblies and even in-person meet-ups and house competitions.
The head of key stage 5, Viktoria Papen, who previously worked in the state school system for 13 years, is keen to refute the idea that online learning is a last resort or an interim solution. “It’s really not,” she says. “We have students who live all around the globe with unique circumstances.” There is also a rigorous onboarding process to help ensure the school is right for new starters. “We look at their reports and applications, and we meet with the family and young people to get to know them, answer their questions and understand their goals.”
While some worry that online schooling might limit social interaction, Betsy’s experience suggests otherwise. With more control over her schedule, she has more time to join in activities with friends that she’d have missed out on in the past. Betsy’s dad Daron has also noticed the change: “I think she’s become more confident and energetic now,” he says.
For Amelia, the shift has also improved her social life. In the past, her stop-start school attendance made friendships difficult to maintain. Now, when she’s not filming, she follows a steady routine: walking the family dog between classes and catching up with old friends at drama club in the evenings.
She’s planning to study drama at university, but for now, King’s InterHigh provides a good balance. “If anyone’s thinking of joining, I highly recommend it,” she says. “My days flow so much better. It just feels right.”
Find out more about King’s InterHigh and how its ambitious approach to schooling makes a world of difference
