No more holiday rush: enjoy the Canary Islands all year

For many British families, life in the Canary Islands offers an enviable way of life. With the lifestyle and the climate on islands such as Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote have to offer, it is easy to see why so many families choose to have a second home there.

However, for families with children there is often a dilemma: local schools do not follow the British curriculum, while international schools can be expensive and often require long daily commutes.

For families who want the academic standards of a British education while continuing to enjoy their life in Spain, Highgrove Online School offers a compelling alternative.

An outstanding British education with highly qualified UK teachers

Highgrove Online School delivers the full British curriculum online, allowing students to study from anywhere in the world while remaining fully aligned with the UK education system.

Students follow a structured academic programme including Key Stage 3, GCSEs and A levels, taught live by experienced subject-specialist teachers. Lessons take place in small classes, allowing students to engage actively, ask questions and receive individual attention.

For expat families in the Canary Islands, this means children can receive a high-quality British education without leaving the islands.

Flexibility

Living abroad often brings a different rhythm of life compared with the UK. Families may travel between countries, host visiting relatives, or balance work commitments across different time zones.

Online schooling offers a level of flexibility that traditional schools cannot match. Students can learn from home while still following a clear academic timetable, meaning families avoid long daily commutes or the need to relocate purely for education.

This model also works particularly well for families who move between countries during the year or who want to maintain strong ties with the UK education system.

Academically Ambitious pupils

Flexibility does not mean compromising academic standards. Highgrove is designed specifically for students who are academically motivated and aiming for top university destinations, and has a track record of excellent exam results. Lessons are taught by experienced subject specialists in small, tutorial-style classes.

Admission to the group class programmes is by entrance assessment to ensure the level of the programme will be a good fit.

One-to-one provision is also an option for pupils who need a more tailored learning pathway or a slightly slower pace of learning.

Preparing Students for Leading Universities

Highgrove pupils also benefit from a strong university preparation programme, helping them develop the academic skills, independence, and confidence required for competitive university applications. Highgrove has a strong record of supporting students into highly competitive universities.

Most leavers progress on to Russell Group universities in the UK, including leading institutions such as Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial, while others move on to international destinations including the US, Europe and Asia. Highgrove provides comprehensive support with university application both to UK and international universities, including exam preparation courses for university access exams such as the LNAT exam required for law degrees and the UCAT exam for medics.

For British expat families, this is a major advantage. Students can enjoy an international upbringing while keeping a clear pathway to top universities in the UK and beyond.

A Supportive and Engaging Learning Environment

Despite being online, Highgrove places strong emphasis on community and student engagement. Small class sizes allow teachers to get to know students well, and lessons are interactive and discussion-based rather than purely lecture-style.

Students are also encouraged to take part in enrichment activities including pupil-led clubs and societies (think debate club, film society, economics society) and a range of elective courses that offer academic breadth and stretch. These opportunities help students develop not only academically, but also socially and personally.

For those families prepared to travel, there are also regular in-person events, including an annual Speech Day held at Oxford University, for pupils and teachers to get together and celebrate their achievements at the end of the academic year.

GET in touch now to start your journey

For British expat families in the Canary Islands, education no longer has to be a compromise between lifestyle and academic ambition.

With Highgrove Online School, students can enjoy life under the Canary Islands’ sun while receiving a rigorous British education that prepares them for leading universities and future success.

For families who want their children to benefit from both an international lifestyle and strong academic outcomes, Highgrove offers the best of both worlds.

Hear more on this from our pupils work independently through the self-study materials to learn the key concepts, and then attend live lessons to practise and apply what they have learnt.

Highgrove teachers additionally host regular Office Hours which pupils can drop into for individual support.

In an increasingly global world, education no longer needs to be tied to a single location.
For many families Highgrove Online School is the smarter, more future-proof choice.