Private Online School
Highgrove Education offers British home schooling for private students. In the UK, home education is considered a viable and legally equal alternative to traditional schooling. Parents can choose to home educate at any point during a child’s compulsory education years without needing specific qualifications. Unlike state schools, which must follow the National Curriculum, home education allows for flexible learning approaches, from structured methods to student directed learning.
Home Education School
Parents are responsible for the home education provided, which needs to be age-appropriate, enable a child to make progress according to his or her particular level of ability, and should take account of any specific aptitudes. Essential skills like literacy and numeracy should align with the child’s age, ability, aptitude, and any special needs.
Home Schooling UK
In the UK, the local authority is responsible for checking that homeschooling students are receiving a suitable education. The council can make an ‘informal enquiry’ to check children are getting a suitable education at home and can serve a school attendance order if they think a child needs to be taught at school.
Online Home School UK
Online schooling has become a popular option for home-educating families in the UK, offering a structured yet flexible approach to education. It combines the advantages of home education with the resources and curriculum typically found in traditional schools.
While children who are homeschooled are not required to take formal qualifications, there are many opportunities which are only open to young adults who hold GCSEs and A levels (or equivalent qualifications), and many families choose to have a more fixed approach to home schooling towards GCSE and A level. At Highgrove Online School we support ambitious pupils studying from home who are aiming to achieve to the best of their ability at GCSE and A level. We have experience teaching pupils who have never been to a traditional school before as well as those who left their school recently. Our pupils can choose to study with us full time or part-time, taking individual a full set of nine (or more) GCSEs or three (or more) A levels or just studying one or two subjects with us.
Home School Examinations
Home-educated children often opt for International GCSEs (IGCSEs) due to their reduced coursework requirements. There are exams centres across the UK where you can take exams as an independent candidate. At Highgrove Online School we support our pupils in locating a convenient exam centre and we enrol our pupils in their exams, including applying for any access arrangements that are necessary for pupils with special educational needs.
Because we are an international online school with students from overseas as well as from the UK, our A level courses follow the international syllabus, meaning there is no lab-based practical element and no coursework requirement. The international qualifications are modular, which means you don’t need to take all your exams in one go at the end of a course. Depending on the subject, there will normally be two or three opportunities a year to take exams (October/November, January and May/June).
The qualifications that students gain for GCSEs and A levels through homeschooling or online schooling are the same as the ones that students gain at traditional schools, and are accepted in the same way by universities.
Is Home Schooling Legal?
If a child has never attended school, parents usually do not need to inform any authority about their decision to home educate. However, if the child is enrolled in a mainstream or special school, parents must follow specific procedures, including notifying the school in writing and potentially seeking consent from local authorities for children with special needs.
Support and Resources
Local home education groups and online communities, such as Facebook groups, provide valuable support and resources for home-educating families.
There are solid benefits of online schooling for home schooled pupils:
1. Flexibility with structure: Online schooling allows for a personalised learning schedule, accommodating different learning paces and styles. However, there is structure in terms of curriculum coverage and exam preparation, ensuring pupils stay on track with their learning.
2. Qualified Instruction: Online schools employ qualified teachers who provide structured lessons, support, and feedback. Our team are experts in their subjects, with many of them working an examiners or authors alongside their teaching roles.
3. Community: Online schools can provide a sense of community and belonging, with the chance to make friends and develop a supportive network.
Choosing the Right Online School for Home Schooling
When selecting an online school, consider the following:
Curriculum: Look for a curriculum that meets your educational goals and aligns with your child’s interests and needs. Does the school offer the range of subjects your child is interested in? Can they support your child with tutoring for subjects they don’t offer as group classes?
Community: Are there opportunities for your child to make friends and socialise with others at the school? What clubs and societies are on offer? Is there a student council, and/or house system?
Support: What kind of support is there for your child? Is coaching available and/or included as part of the enrolment? Check if the school offers additional support, such as tutoring, counseling, and technical assistance. For example, at Highgrove, our teachers are available for one-to-one support at no additional cost.
Exam results: If the school offers examinations, what are the results of past cohorts and how do they compare to the national average? If you have a particularly academic child they are likely to prefer studying with others who are academically able, but a school which is aimed at academically ambitious students will not suit every child.
Safeguarding and SEND: Look for a school with a safeguarding policy and designated safeguarding lead, and a SENDCo as part of the staff team. Even if your child does not need the additional support, knowing they are available is a reassurance and a mark of a high quality school.
Technology Requirements: Ensure you have a reliable broadband internet connection and an up to date device. For studying maths and science, a graphics pad will be useful. Some online schools may require an external webcam to be able to invigilate online examinations.
Cost: Online schooling can be more affordable than private schooling but this varies depending on the program. Consider what the fees include. For example, is there coaching and one-to-one support from teachers included in fees, or do they just cover group classes?
Parents considering home schooling for their children have many options available if they would like the support of an online school.
Highgrove Online School is a versatile and effective option for home education for academically ambitious teenagers who want to achieve to the best of their ability in GCSEs and A levels. By choosing the right program and providing adequate support, parents can ensure a fulfilling and comprehensive educational experience for their children. Speak to our team today to discuss the right approach for your child.
Are you ready to upgrade your child’s education with Highgrove Online School?
Take the first step now!
Our homeschoolers come to us highly adept at working independently and motivated to achieve. Highgrove Online School offers flexible programmes that accommodate self-paced learning and suit pupils used to greater academic freedom. Book a call to speak to our team member about your child’s educational journey and how we can improve it.
