Interhigh parents, come this way. . .

[WhyHasAllTheRumGone]

Following on from a thread in chat, it was suggested we might like to get together over here.

I've one DS currently in year 10 at IH. We are based in Staffordshire. I guess I'd just like to chat with other parents in a similar situation.

[Schroedingerscatagain]

15 in a class is still half a standard secondary school

Proven track record and business model, excellent results this year

Very happy at Interhigh

[Branleuse]

yeah, its still not bad compared to a brick mainstream.

[Branleuse]

we couldnt have done interhigh as it only starts at year 7. Wasnt trying to say anything bad against interhigh at all. Just giving another option :)

[Schroedingerscatagain]

Hopefully you’re going to find it a brilliant experience for your dc, if you’ve seen any of my other posts you’ll see I’m quite evangelical about this type of education

Not all children fit the standard mound when it comes to school and if that’s your child it can be a very difficult time finding the right fit

Most services still don’t signpost parents to this way of educating which seems to work extremely well for anxious asd type youngsters

I couldn’t begin to explain how much this school has helped turn my dd’s life around from the suicidal despairing child she was, to the bright feisty young woman she is becoming

[Branleuse]

[uncharacteristichose]

The social opportunities of interhigh seems so great!! DD is in another online school that has very similar classes but nothing outside of it. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get DD to socialise a bit more? Prefer teaching at DDs school but slightly wish we'd chosen interhigh just for the social aspect. Not bothered if it's online or not but no one seems to be friends on her school unless they knew each other before?

[Branleuse]

i think with us, we are just going to try and get to some home ed groups on the days she doesnt have lessons, as she is currently only doing 3 days a week, and meeting up with other home-ed families. Have you researched whats on in your area?

[uncharacteristichose]

I've tried to research it but not much seems to happen, there's one home ed group but it's for younger primary aged children. H ed isn't very popular around here, so that's probably why.

[Branleuse]

what about after school activities - drama clubs etc, karate

[Rosie70]

Hi there, my son had his first lessons at Interhigh today! I am so relieved. He is in year 10. He has been ill for over a year and has been off school for the majority of that time. I have been battling to get him access to education. My question to fellow year 10 parents is what can I do to help him catch up? Interhigh is doing igcses and different exam boards to his previous school. How do I find out what he has missed and what the course specifications are, etc? Any advice on this and any other aspect of Interhigh including the social side would be hugely appreciated, thank you.

[LouMcc12]

Hi Rosie I am in a similar position to you as my son is starting his first lesson this Thursday in Yr10. He has only missed about a months education but I’m worrying about catching up/doing IGCSE’s etc. How did your son get on today did he find it easy to use? Can’t tell you how much it helps to talk to other parents in similar situations you can feel quite overwhelmed with it all. Lou x

[uncharacteristichose]

Branleuse I'll look around for some! as DD is 15 she didn't want to start any because she thought everyone would be really good at whatever the club was and she wouldn't be able to join. There'll probably be some she could go to though, thanks!

[Schroedingerscatagain]

Hi Rosie

He’s not in Bulldogs by any chance is he? Dd said there was a new boy starting and a returning friend in class on Monday

To catch up he can go to the lesson library for all his subjects and access past classes as they are all stored there

Any other questions, as I’ve said to Lou feel free to dm me

[Rosie70]

Hi Lou and Schroedinger, he's not in Bulldogs. St Bernards. He got on pretty well actually, all went smoothly and he found it easy to use. Thanks re lesson library info and offer re DM, will prob take you up on that. Did the GCSe courses start this year or year 9? If it was year 9 then I don't see how he'll ever catch up... But to be honest there was no other choice for us, he is too unwell to attend a normal school. Good luck with your son Lou! Feel free to DM me too.

[Schroedingerscatagain]

Hi Rosie

The igcses only started in year 10 and as you can probably tell there are quite a lot of new students starting even at this point with two in Bulldogs, 1 in st Bernard’s and one about to start

Classes are arranged by timetabled subjects from year 10 with double/triple science psychology/business studies being some of the split options

Hopefully both your ds’s will soon start to settle and make friends perhaps even with each other?

If you have any problems please speak to school, they’ve always been so approachable and helpful with us, and any questions I’m happy to help if I can

[Rosie70]

Thanks so much,that's such good news. Thank you for all your help!

[wakemeupbefore]

Most interesting thread.
Are there any parents who have pulled their children from independent schools and if yes, how does the curriculum/setting/etc compare. Does IH set the pupils and how would they assess ability/levels? Would the more able pupils be moved to a different 'class'?

[LouMcc12]

Hi,

Yes I pulled my son from main stream school. He joined InterHigh in February and is doing well. There is a base line test that the students do which shows where they are academically. The curriculum is pretty much the same as main stream the only difference is they are not assessed by coursework it is done via homework. If anything my sons grades have gone up since joining.

[sayatika]

One of my DC has just left IH. He was in the top set for Maths (basically doing the Higher Tier iGCSE) and is doing the triple science so went into what I suppose you would call a top set for those. Otherwise they are put in a very mixed ability class and stay there. The curriculum is the same for iGCSEs but of course the teaching/(lack of) practical work/environment is totally different.

[wakemeupbefore]

Have I understoon correctly that they have ability, not age-based classes?
Lou..., was your DC in independent or state run school previously?

[sayatika]

No it's age based but they do have some "sets" for maths and science if doing the triple (harder)

[LouMcc12]

He was in a state run school

[KOKOagainandagain]

Verbena - Inter High is the UKs only online school.
They learn in a virtual classroom in real time with a teacher....unlike many other companies who upload the lessons not in real time.

DS2 goes to Cambridge Home School. This is also an online school with real time lessons with a teacher. The classes tend to be smaller - I think there is a maximum of 12 - but often around 10. The curriculum is also slightly wider with 11 subjects at KS3 and separate sciences which is one of the reasons I chose them rather than IH which is better known.

DC are placed in classes according to ability rather than age. DS2 has an EHCP and his fees are paid by personal budget by the LA. He is 2e (ASD and academically gifted) and would be in year 7 (and significantly underachieving) in a brick school but is in the equivalent of a year nine class. Both his chemistry and physics teachers have PhDs.

DC use the school's message service, Flock and Discord to chat. And Skype which I make DS2 turn off otherwise some DC continually Skype during lessons.

[TatterdemalionAspie]

Ooh, I had no idea there was an Interhigh parents' thread - can I join you, please?!

My DD is Y10 and has been at Interhigh since Y7. It's worked very well for us.

I'll read the thread properly later but just wanted to say hello.

[Schroedingerscatagain]

Hi Tatter

Dd is also year 10 and has been there since summer term year 7, welcome to the thread