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Original poster

Interhigh concerns - other parents around?

34 replies

SomewhereOutThere · 25/06/2018 21:06

I'm very concerned about this meeting on a Thursday. There are rumours (via my friend in the Fb group, which I'm not on) that they want to switch to the first half of lessons in massive groups of 100 or more with one teacher. Shock I have an anxious child with some educational gaps who often needs to flag early in a lesson that she doesn't understand. This seems impossible in a massive group. Also it's been really good watching her grow in confidence and start making comments in class chat, and even reading slides and contributing via microphone. This only happens because she trusts her teachers and feels supported by rest of small class.
Since I heard about IH on here I thought I'd let everyone know that this meeting on Thursday at 6.30 is really important. (The head emailed about pedagogy today and it sounded dull and unimportant, oh and it clashes with the football.) This might be our only chance to hear the changes before they affect our kids. While we can still do something to influence them, whether that's complaining or switching to a different online school.
Please make the online meeting if you can.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Homegirl1 · 08/03/2019 10:50

Does anyone know much about Cambridge Online Home School? I've gone off IH now.

chsonline.org.uk/index.html

Homegirl1 · 08/03/2019 10:48

Bump

Beatrice35 · 05/07/2018 22:40

Thanks, TatterdemalionAspie. You are right, the new contract reduces the notice period, with a higher deposit. Good point. Signed it.

Beatrice35 · 05/07/2018 22:38

Thank you so much for this, drawnmyjohn! Will look at it then.

TatterdemalionAspie · 05/07/2018 17:24

Have you looked at the new contracts, Beatrice? They're different, although I think they penalise you with the deposit amount rather than the notice period.

Beatrice35 · 05/07/2018 14:28

Joining the thread. DS been at Interhigh for a while. Was happy there. But disliked the trial subject with new pedagogic method. Looking to move to different online school with interactive teaching. But stuck with a full term's notice contract. Anyone found a way around it?

Saveourkids · 29/06/2018 17:58

Thanks @branleuse
I really hope so too. Fingers crossed!

Saveourkids · 29/06/2018 17:56

Thanks @ somewhereoutthere
I’m really hoping she enjoys the trial and all works out. I am in the process of getting an assessment for my DD, if we get her learning needs formally identified we may get the funding to pay for MOS otherwise I will have to pay for it myself which will be tough financially.

I’m glad you’ve go positive news about moving your DC to another provider, hope this is a smooth transition for you both.

Are you able to give me some details about how you got the funding, what did you have to do, who did you have to speak etc
Thanks

Branleuse · 29/06/2018 17:54

I'm just so glad this online schooling thing is taking off. I think it's a brilliant format for so many kids that can't access a normal school for whatever reason.
I'm happy you've decided to try MOS @saveourkids I hope your dc loves it as much as my dd

Wiifitmama · 29/06/2018 17:45

I want to second Netschool as a provider. We have dipped in and out a little as part of home schooling. I know a number of others who use them too. They are really excellent, small classes, great teachers. And you can do just one subject too if you want.

drawnmyjohn · 29/06/2018 17:41

Hi! Just wanted to say that my DS is in Netschool, and I can really recommend it if anyone is looking for a different online school! The classes are max 9 (?) I think, but DS has never had more than 8, sometimes as little as 3. The teaching is great, he's been learning so much and is becoming so much more confident in himself and his learning :) complete 180 as he was a school refuser before.

Original poster
SomewhereOutThere · 29/06/2018 16:40

I'm glad you have found a solution for your child, @Saveourkids. Hope it goes well there and Od be really interested in staying updated with how it goes.

You're very wise to notice that unanswered questions are a red flag - I wish I had! There was something (minor) IH were very cagey about in our open evening and I should have listened to my gut.

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Saveourkids · 29/06/2018 13:11

Thanks for this, I have decided to with my online schooling instead of interhigh. They are actually cheaper and don’t require the 500 pounds deposit. Also if you sign up before July you get the first month free. It’s disaapointing that they have changed things without consulting parents. I attended the open evening on the 27th and tried to ask about this but my question was ignored. That was a big red flag for me anyway and after speak with MOS today it appears they have signed up a number of interhigh parents who are now switching schools because of these changes. We have a free trial starting Monday so let parents know how that goes.

Original poster
SomewhereOutThere · 29/06/2018 13:03

Yes it's very dissapointing. I've spent the morning on the phone trying to find out how to get the online school changed for DD. The woman at the LEA said I wasn't the only one who'd been in touch this week about IH concerns, and they're already in touch with a new provider. We're really pleased, it feel like it will be straigtforward for us to get the funding aproaved for a different OL school. (I said she should write to all the aprents they're funding IH for to alert them to the changes and see if it will still meet their DC's needs and she said that was a good idea.) I just want to make sure parents know about this before it starts happening.

OP posts:
TatterdemalionAspie · 29/06/2018 12:50

Yes. The changes are being introduced as described for years 7-10 (from September). They have backtracked on changing things for the current Y10s (ie Y11s in Sept), which is a relief, but still leaves us with problem that they are not currently timetabling the number of teaching hours required to adequately teach the new 9-1 syllabi, and are not willing to pay the teachers for extra teaching time in the usual (max 18) classes.

They recorded the session, so hopefully that will be available to parents who missed it. You might want to join the Interhigh Parents and Friends Facebook group.

Saveourkids · 29/06/2018 11:57

Did any InterHigh parents manage to attend the meeting on Thur regarding the changes to teaching (lecture style classes)?
If so are you able to give an update on whether these changes are def coming in?

Branleuse · 27/06/2018 11:43

@somewhereoutthere Give them the heads up about the one i linked to too They will usually do a free trial if youre interested. My kids got a free trial of 3 lessons. I cant recommend them enough if small classes are a priority for you/her. Ive always found them really approachable and warm

Theres also Briteschool which is supposed to be good, and also cambridge homeschool online,

Original poster
SomewhereOutThere · 27/06/2018 09:49

In my LEA it's almost impossible to get an EHCP for a kid who is already homeschooled. It's different everywhere it seems, though.

On the IH debacle... I recommended IH to a friend who is going to open evening tonight. she's excited about it for her children while they live abroad next year, and I felt so awkward telling her last ngiht about this issue. She's interested whether they still promise small class sizes and invidiual attention at te event tonight. (So am I!! I don't think they should mis-sell what they do, at the same time it's out of order for them to tell prospective parents before the rest of us.)

OP posts:
Branleuse · 26/06/2018 22:08

im really tempted to apply for an EHCP for her and see if theyll fund it, as at the moment im using all her DLA to pay for it

Schroedingerscatagain · 26/06/2018 21:57

Dd is year 10 and on an ehcp too so we are tied in and committed till the end of year 11

Branleuse · 26/06/2018 21:15

@SomewhereOutThere

Shes doing myonlineschooling.co.uk/

It was actually recommended to me by someone on mumsnet. Its relatively new and a lot smaller than interhigh. My dd started off with only one other in her class, and now has 6. Im really pleased so far. Shes gone from being a school refuser, to being moved up a year and really enjoying her learning.
My eldest is also doing a GCSE with them. They were the only one I found that would let him do one GCSE at a time, rather than a block of 5. Ive found them very flexible

Takethemdown · 26/06/2018 18:47

Another one following out of interest.

Original poster
SomewhereOutThere · 26/06/2018 18:44

There's a lot of IH parents open for recommendations! Do you mind saying which one, Branleuse? By PM, if you prefer?

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Branleuse · 26/06/2018 17:37

Id be interested to hear how this turns out. My dd is at a different online school and really loving the format. Its making me glad i didnt pick interhigh right now

bellinisurge · 26/06/2018 15:31

Thanks @TatterdemalionAspie