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Internet Schools - Y9 recommendation? Help!

11 replies

fayemac1975 · 28/02/2019 08:03

I’m about to de-register my Y9 daughter due to a number of ongoing issues with schooling. We’ve been trialling some internet schools but I have no idea how I can find out the pros and cons of each school. I’ve had a 3 day trial with Cambridge online - but it’s much more expensive than the others although seems smaller classes - day 5-6 per lesson. Has anyone any experience of them? I’ve looked at myonloneschoolong and inter high but I’ve found inter high gets very mixed reports and much larger classes. Has anyone used them or any others they can recommend? If anyone could provide any guidance or thoughts it’d be much appreciated. I feel as this transition is such a change, I must get it right.....

OP posts:
DameCelia · 28/02/2019 10:40

Hi OP

I deregistered our daughter in Y9 as well, actually she was in school refusal so pretty much deregistered herself.

She started at Cambridge Online in Sep 18 in Y10. We did loads of research before choosing them, they were the best fit for her but every child is different.

Positives; tiny classes, superb teaching, unlimited individual contact between teachers and pupils if needed, all work marked and returned immediately (and copied to us), additional work provided to us to help her where needed, group homework sessions in the afternoons which is really successful and fun, lots of online contact between pupils if they want it.

Negatives; technical problems in Sep18 meant logging on each day was a problem, this was resolved by them going back to their old learning platform, I think, but a new platform is going live in March so fingers crossed. The technical problems weren't the end of the world but the school's response was a bit hit and miss. Once they sorted it we've had no more problems.

Positive/negative, depending on your daughter; the academic standard is high. In subjects where she's excelled this has been brilliant for her, in subjects where she struggles we've done a lot of helping/coaching for her to keep up with the class and not worry about falling behind.

They teach IGCSE so if she decided she wanted to go back into mainstream education before taking the exams there would be a mismatch between what she has/hasn't covered.

IGCSE maths and physics appear to be at a higher level than standard GCSES but that is only a personal perception, don't know if it's true.

Online schooling in general;
Can be V isolating, if you live rurally be prepared to spend a lot of time transporting her so she can maintain friendships she would otherwise have at school, also to sports clubs etc as no PE.

You may end up spending a lot of time with her as she won't be interacting with people in real life anywhere near as much, you might become her main human contact. That can be negative for both of you and mess with the parent/child relationship, also sometimes you just need to get away from each other !

Be prepared for higher bills, having someone at home all day means lighting, heating even if only one room and an extra meal a day, I was staggered by how much food we get through.

If it works it is great, and for us it was online or no schooling because I refused to teach her myself. But do beware of the 2 year commitment due to the different curriculum, I'm not suggesting you couldn't switch back but I suspect it could really dent results.

Sorry for the length of my post! But I hope it helps.

DameCelia · 28/02/2019 10:42

There were paragraphs in that, honestly.🙄

Oliversmumsarmy · 28/02/2019 10:59

Ds used Interhigh.

Never really noticed the size of the classes as it is taught like years ago with a teacher in front of class.
Any time Ds didn’t understand something he was able to pm the teacher during the lesson.

Usually more than one pupil was asking the same so they would go over the bits that were causing the problem.

Ds enjoyed the lessons and got a lot out of them.

ineedaknittedhat · 28/02/2019 13:37

Our ds is at Interhigh and it's working really well. He enjoys it and we haven't encountered any problems. You need a reliable internet connection of course. The standard of teaching is good and he gets homework and reports. He's staying for his GCSEs and we'll try and get him into a sixth form for his A levels.

fayemac1975 · 28/02/2019 17:27

Wow, thank you DameCelia, this is immensely helpful - more than I could have hoped for. Lots of things to consider and it’s great to hear you have first hand experience as their portal, as you say, isn’t the best,but if the teaching is then I can put up with that!

Does anyone know if Inter High do GCSE’s or iGCSE’s?

Also, has anyone regretted taking their child out of school, albeit I appreciate their are drawbacks, but wondering if it has had a worse effect on their child or they’ve gone backwards in their education? My daughter has only been doing a trial since Monday, but seems much happier in herself already being away from all the peer pressure. Albeit, it’s super early days!

Thoughts very much appreciated?

OP posts:
fayemac1975 · 28/02/2019 17:29

That’s super helpful thank you so much Oliversmums army. I had heard reports that Inter High are keen to take your money but when there’s a problem you want to speak to them about, they are a little dismissive, so that’s encouraging. I might see if I can get some trial lessons set up there too. Thank you so much!

OP posts:
fayemac1975 · 28/02/2019 17:31

Thank you so muxh ineedaknittedhat. Really helpful indeed and good to hear encouraging feedback. Thank you so much!

OP posts:
Oliversmumsarmy · 28/02/2019 19:58

Never found them dismissive.

Any issues with internet connection (our computer and internet is rubbish) was dealt with promptly

itsstillgood · 01/03/2019 15:53

I think it is MyOnlineSchooling that has recently got in to trouble for offering tutoring for an IGCSE that can no longer be sat in the UK. Problem only came to light when people approached their exam centres to book the exam having shelled out for the tuition.
This isn't the first case of online schools getting things wrong.
The important thing is to do your own research into the subjects and examboard for GCSEs

Oliversmumsarmy · 02/03/2019 13:52

As far as I am aware you can still take IGCSEs in the UK.

Also I don’t know if it is any different but Interhigh gave you the centres near your address that could be used and gave your details to the school to let them know you would be in contact.
There was no scrambling about looking for places to take the exam

itsstillgood · 02/03/2019 14:38

It was one specific igcse that was the problem in this case - Global Citizenship I think. Each subject has its own rules.
I know people who use that school and are happy.
Just advising that anyone checks the exam specs of the courses offered for themselves as it's a lot of money and time.

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