I am a teacher at a large online school AMA

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Just that really, I know that people often have questions about online schooling and I will answer anything that I can.

Is it InterHigh?

If a child is attending an online high school (and i'm assuming it comes with daily structure?), why not just attend a typical high school?

Chiller
There are a whole variety of reasons why people choose online schooling, from being unhappy with mainstream education, to needing flexibility due to other interests activities. There is a structure to the school day where I teach, but parents can choose how many subjects they wish their child to study, therefore fit schooling around their needs.

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What are the reasons, if you know, that most of your students are being home educated?

I have noticed that a lot of the parents who talk about home education on here are closing so because their children have learning difficulties, special needs or are on the spectrum and their needs are not being met by mainstream education in the UK. On the other hand, in the US, it seems to be more religiously motivated, but there may be a huge difference between what people discuss or seek support with online, and your reality as a teacher who sees them all!

Also, do young teenagers actually care as much about "missing out" socially as non-home-educating parents fear they might?

crosspelican
There are so many reasons why people choose online education. I teach kids who do a lot of sport etc therefore online education fits with their needs. Also I teach children who travel a lot and so can always access online education.
There are opportunities at my school for students to interact socially online and we even have events where they can meet up, so whilst they probably don’t interact as much as those in mainstream, there are opportunities available.

How exactly do you teach-do you prepare and then teach a lesson via eg webcam? Can you see the children? Do they interact with you mid lesson? Do you teach one child or loads at a time?

How did you find/get the job?

Do you work entirely from home?

Do you get paid/pension via the TPS or is it via a private company? How does the pay compare to state teaching in England?

What hours do you work? What about marking/planning?

How do universities feel about home tuition? Would it impact on the child's application in any way?

Chilver - bullying? Remoteness? Travelling lifestyle?

I also forgot to say, yes children can see me and talk to me, but I can’t see them. They can communicate in lessons via a chat box, or using a microphone.

I never knew this was possible!

Would you choose online education for your own children?

MrsJamieFraser2
It isn’t home tuition, it’s an online school, so children get registered, have a tutor period, complete classes, homework’s assessments. They have half termly data report and also a written report. They enter all exams, so it makes little difference to universities. Our students go to Russell Group universities, if they get the grades they need then they are treated no differently.
BoomTish
Yes I would send my children to Interhigh if they were unable to attend mainstream school, or if circumstances required it. I have a very sporty child, if that took her in the direction where she was required to increase her training, then yes I would enroll her into Interhigh. Also, I feel that there is a lot of pressure placed on kids at KS4 to complete a lot of GCSE’s, you can choose how many to take at Interhigh so that reduces stress considerably.

Hi, one thing I've never understood about the online schools is how they actually work for kids who do sports or acting professionally. Do they still have to follow the timetable, or can they watch lessons later?
(This is why IH doesn't work for us - we're busy with sports classes and I don't want my kids sitting in front of a screen for that long.)

AspergersMum
Interhigh works as you can choose how many subjects you want your child to study. There are lots of classes per year group, so if a child needs afternoons free for sport that can usually be accommodated, or they can be a ‘library learner’ where they watch the recordings in their own time.

Do you feel you get to know the children you teach?

EduCated
Yes and much quicker than I thought I would. Class sizes are small and all personalities come through, be it in the chat box or microphone. I have as much interaction with students online as in a traditional classroom.

Why are you being so secretive about who you work for on this thread but you've just told someone on a separate thread that you work for Interhigh?

1099 She hasn't been secretive. She literally says it above.

We're interested in home education because we have jobs that allow us to spend a lot of the year travelling or just being somewhere warmer than here, but we DO have to spend about 24 weeks of the year in England. My children also do a sport that is better practiced during the school day (daylight hours, fewer crowds) and during the 24 weeks of the year we're here they could have very flexible training that wouldn't be possible if they were at school and we were here for the whole school yr.

It's interesting that sport and travel rank so high in people's reasons! Makes me feel a bit less odd. :)

crosspelican
There are so many reasons why parents choose Interhigh and I think that it is becoming a much popular choice for parents who would ordinarily send their children to mainstream school. I imagine that we will see a lot more online schooling options in the near future.

*How exactly do you teach-do you prepare and then teach a lesson via eg webcam? Can you see the children? Do they interact with you mid lesson? Do you teach one child or loads at a time?

How did you find/get the job?

Do you work entirely from home?

Do you get paid/pension via the TPS or is it via a private company? How does the pay compare to state teaching in England?

What hours do you work? What about marking/planning?*

Bold fail, but all the Qs a pp asked. So interesting

How expensive is it?
Do local authorities pay when they have no suitable provision available?

Do parents send documentation such as birth certificates? How do you really know who you're teaching? Can children join in the "wrong" school year if they're ahead or behind for a reason other than ability (eg missing a lot of school in the past)?

Do they do exams in bricks and mortar centers?

Are all the teachers UK qualified teachers?

MayhemandMadness01
Fees are generally funded by the parents at Interhigh and depend upon the package that you choose. I am not sure if package prices off the top of my head, but I think start from around £300 ish per month, although don’t quote me on that!