At this year’s Digital Learningpalooza 2024, hosted by David Schmidt, Lecturer at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, we were thrilled to take part in an exciting backstage online meetup. Billed as a chance to “meet some amazing international schools”, this session gave attendees the opportunity to explore innovative educational approaches and engage directly with school representatives. Heather Rhodes, our founder and principal, was on hand to share insights into our unique online schooling model.
From Harrow School Online to Our Current School
Heather kicked things off by recounting the journey from Harrow School Online to our current school. After the closure of Harrow School Online, Heather and the team continued independently, expanding to cover more year groups while maintaining our commitment to academic excellence. With the same ethos and teaching team, the focus remains on delivering top-tier education and an extensive co-curricular programme, helping students achieve exceptional exam results and develop life skills.
A Levels and Flipped Learning
A key aspect of our success is the flipped learning approach, which Heather explained in detail. Students complete 60% of their learning independently, with the remaining 40% delivered through live lessons. This approach fosters self-reliance while allowing teachers to provide personalised, one-to-one support. As a result, our students consistently achieve some of the best A Level results in the UK, placing us among the top 1% of schools.
Creating a Sense of Community in an Online Environment
Heather addressed one of the common concerns in online education: how to build a sense of community. She explained how our school ensures strong connections through a cameras-on policy during lessons, alongside student-led clubs, societies, and weekly house meetings. These activities are designed to foster social interaction, ensuring students feel part of a close-knit community, despite being in a digital environment.
Independent Learning and Accountability
Heather also shared insights into how we support independent learning. Weekly coaching sessions and our Skills and Mindset Programme help students develop time management skills and good study habits. Teachers track progress carefully, working with coaches to offer timely support and guidance when needed, helping students become more accountable and successful in their learning.
Key Questions from the Audience
The session ended with a lively Q&A, with attendees keen to dive deeper into our approach:
Can students enrol for individual courses?
Heather confirmed that students can join for individual A Level or elective courses. Many opt for our enrichment programme, which offers a broad range of clubs, societies, and electives, including courses like our popular investment training elective.
How do you encourage student participation?
Heather explained the importance of having cameras on during lessons and highlighted how social activities like house meetings and presentations help to boost confidence and foster engagement in a supportive environment.
The Digital Learningpalooza 2024 event offered a fantastic opportunity to showcase how our online school combines academic excellence with a rich, community-driven online learning experience, ensuring students around the world can thrive.
We are already looking forward to the next event in 2025 and the Digital Learning Annual Conference (DLAC) in February 2025!
