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Original poster

First FREE full time online school to open 2015

18 replies

TanyaMack · 02/05/2014 16:24

Hi thought I'd share this here for anyone that might be interested. This is a Free online school for years 5 through 13 which hopes to launch September 2015. It needs a few more expression of interest forms to be filled in to make it a goer, but there is no commitment in filling the form in, you will simply be kept up to date via email how it is progressing.
It sound really exciting and I am seriously looking into it for my youngest son as a back up if he doesn't get into his first choice secondary school next year.
I was considering homeschooling anyway, which I did with my eldest for a while, but this would make it more structured and a better option for us.
I hope some of you find it interesting too :) here is the link....

www.weyecademy.com/

OP posts:
mary21 · 02/05/2014 17:13

Wish it was around last year. I am sure it will be popular especially in areas with poor schools and with people whose kids can't access mainstream for whatever reason.

Soveryupset · 02/05/2014 18:14

What an excellent idea!!

MumTryingHerBest · 02/05/2014 19:51

TanyaMack thanks for heads up. Will have a look over the weekend :-)

saintlyjimjams · 03/05/2014 08:39

Have just had a look - looks interesting. We have been struggling with a second choice for ds3 (only year 4 at the moment but no obvious second choice for him as there was with ds3). Think this can be added to the list.

lionheart · 03/05/2014 09:28

Interesting idea.

nlondondad · 06/05/2014 12:43

yes I agree. A very interesting idea.

Some thoughts:

The restriction on how big the PAN can be for a school is normally the physical "plant" available. And when as a one off, a "bulge class" is created in a school this is only possible because the school has unused space -often the case in Islington- or a temporay provision (a portocabin?) is made.

In this case as there are no school buildings as such what decides how many children can be admitted? I mean for planning purposes they will have to set a PAN which relates to the willingness of the EFA to meet the bills, but if asked, say by an area really short of school places, what is the restiction on putting in bulge classes? None that I can see....

QueenYnci · 06/05/2014 13:15

Thanks for the link. Very interesting for us as we're considering taking DS out of school next year to home ed anyway and this would give us some structure. I've expressed an interest for now (as it says on the website they need more expressions of interest by today) and I'll have a proper look at the website later.

Moid1 · 06/05/2014 14:07

DS1 would love this, not having to deal with the rough & tumble of school life. DS2 would hate this.

BetweenDogandWolf · 06/05/2014 16:24

Thanks, have filled in the form for further info. DS is in yr 4 but I'm already a bit worried about how he'll cope at secondary school as he doesn't deal with more boisterous children very well.

tethersend · 06/05/2014 18:58

I'd be interested to know how it counts for legal purposes- for example, could a child on roll at this school be deemed to be in full time education and therefore not in need of a school place? Or would it be treated as homeschooling?

Knowing how some LEAs operate, I would be concerned that they may use something like this to absolve them of their responsibility to find schools for hard to place children.

saintlyjimjams · 06/05/2014 19:23

It would be exactly the same as any other free school.

tethersend · 06/05/2014 20:08

Places at any other free school can be allocated by the LEA if there are no other places available, even if you have not applied. Is this likely to be an option here? If so, how?

Geraldthegiraffe · 06/05/2014 20:20

It looks interesting. It isn;t homeschooling in that it is 4-5 hours a day at the computer at actual timetabled lessons, with registers taken. So it is like a school you access from home... but without the hustle bustle of school.

You'd interact via the internet and are encouraged to join local sports teams/D of E etc.

I sort of like the idea and sort of don't like the idea of a 10 year old at the computer for 4-5 hours a day. If I took my daughter out of school I think I'm more likely to home school.

However it might be well suited to self motivated gcse students (and those who had already been homeschooled when younger?)

If only I could afford good quality extra curricular and all the other bits school provides, and for me to SAH. I'd be potentially interested.

saintlyjimjams · 07/05/2014 07:41

I wouldn't have thought so terhersend because it's not going to be situated within the LEA. Also they say they expect adult supervision until age 14 so all you'd have to go is say you can't provide it & need them to & problem solved (they won't find that).

saintlyjimjams · 07/05/2014 07:42

*fund

bochead · 07/05/2014 15:09

It's legal status is NOT homeschooling but the same as any other state school. Exams fees would be covered. This is what makes it so interesting, & so important to note you'd be subject to the same attendance legislation etc as for a brick school.

You also have the same right to apply for a place as you do for any other state school, though you can apply from any geographic location within England (why doesn't it cover Wales too - would save me a Tribunal!).

Geraldthegiraffe · 07/05/2014 16:54

Which means attendance monitored at your computer for 4-5 hours a day. Not necessarily what you'd think initially?

saintlyjimjams · 07/05/2014 17:02

It's 4-5 hours in group lessons - like interhigh. The lessons are interactive so school like. I have no wish to home educate but I could see this sort of school potentially suiting ds3

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