Online GCSE schools

[indigox]

DS is about to start his 4th year at a Scottish high school, we've had bullying issues from the start which after an incident this morning appears to even extend into summer holidays even where he has no contact with them.
He's been begging me to leave for at least a year but no local schools have any spaces available for him to move to so online schooling is looking like our only option before we move into the most important part of his education.

Does anyone have any firsthand experience of the online schools offering IGCSEs? A few I've found - Thomas Keith Independent School, Minerva, Kings Interhigh, Online School UK, Elea High but open to looking at more, even those based outside of the UK.

I'm looking for - timetabled live online lessons, content that's mainly video (dyslexia), max budget of approx £5k which includes at least 5 subjects, very hands off for me as I'm a single parent with a full time job.

Subjects he wants to do so some combination of these need to be available: Business, Economics, ICT, Computer Science (and obviously Maths and English)

I’m really sorry things have been so hard. DD is quite a bit younger (Y7) but thriving at Minerva, I can highly recommend. But there might not be as much recorded/live content as you’re looking for though (10 lessons a week in KS3 but I think it increases nearer GCSEs). It is also a bit more expensive than you’ve outlined (about £8k).

If you work full time does that mean that he will be at home alone all day, expected to motivate himself to learn and study? Honestly I really do feel for him, it’s an awful situation but I’m not sure that this is a good idea. Sounds very isolating.

How are the school dealing with the bullying?

No, I WFH so i'll be there, but it is part of the reason why I want timetabled online lessons that have elements of group work/discussion, its an improvement on the current situation of sitting in the class in silence trying to not exist to avoid attracting attention from the bullies, coming home at lunchtime, leaving school during morning break.

The school have gone through various phases - I'm the issue because he'll skip registration in the morning to avoid these kids then we get to its not bullying they're just no longer friends (throwing objects in class, downloading social media content from my insta/tiktok accounts, his tiktok from 4+ years ago and watching/showing the videos repeatedly to everyone in class followed by namecalling/mocking is not what I'd consider "just not friends"), then we had the source of it is Snapchat/Tiktok so not their responsibility esp if its happening outside of school hours, since the last report they've threatened to "jump him" if he speaks to the teachers again, they've made fake accounts pretending to be one of his only friends (a kid that doesn't go to their school and they've had to do some online stalking to find his, but "no proof its them"), he plays a game online, I deleted his account/any connections/traces of his name, goes back online with a new identity and they've still managed to find him and they're harassing him there now, nearly a month into the school holidays. He has plenty of friends within the game he plays but now they're trying to invade this "safe space" where he can be himself too, its relentless.

Wolsey Hall, I think it’s called. Neighbours do it

You’ve probably already thought of this, but make sure each specific exam for which the school is preparing him is one which he can sit at an exam centre accessible to you. Some online schools are irresponsible about taking on kids who have no realistic prospect of sitting the exam for which they are studying. Have you found a local home ed forum where you can discuss the subject with other parents in your area?

Do join the Hefa group on face book “home education for all” and the “uk exams and alternates” group. Both are full of very useful information. If you would consider cheaper options sometimes independent providers have different approaches that suit different kids.
“southwest sciences” do all the sciences many home ed parents rate them and very cheap plus options to join live classes.
maths genie & Corbett maths have lots of free online content for gcse level and “Absolute Maths” do online groups or recorded lessons.
“Teach all about IT” Holly Billinghurst for computer science
Plus “£2 tuition hub” has loads options at different levels & subjects.
Learn laugh play LLP - also do cheap online lessons in small groups.
You will need to pay and organise to sit each igcse £2-300 each regardless of who you use.
Good luck we were in a similar situation it’s taken 6-9mths to adapt to a different way of learning but our DD is thriving now we do use a in person tutor for a couple of sessions too as she needed someone else other than us to help her. All less than cost of some of the all in online providers. Look at what your DS needs to access the next level of college and he may only need 4-6 GCSEs as often colleges will lower entry requirements if they are HomeEd students.

This looks really good. I hadn’t heard of them before. Thank you 🙏

Are most of the children from abroad? DS getting bullied, he is British. Just wondering what chances for meet ups and that kind of thing. He wants friends but finds most kids are just too unkind and mean. Mostly NT I would say but pretty sensitive. Can’t do rough and tumble

We did GCSE's with Kings Interhigh after an autistic burnout and severe depression. Happy to chat!

And I meant to say they met all your criteria

@EllaBrooks still at it with the pretend posts I see…

Missed the deleted replies so don’t know what the issue is.

DS2 did Interhigh for GSCE but had an EHCP so funded by the LA as were face to face tutors he needed for non maths and science subjects. I had to be present and acting as unpaid LSA but at least it got him through to 6th form and he is now studying engineering at uni.

@motherofawhirlwinda long quiet thread. Are you still around? I’m having a desperate moment. Can you tell me about Kings Interhigh. I have a self harming 14 year old. Treating as if autistic but no assessment yet. Shes bright. But hating nearly every aspect of secondary education. I cannot home school. I have no skills or patience. We would both kill each other! I NEED an alternative. Thanks!!

I'm here :) Will PM you x

In case anyone else is interested my DD14 just started Yr 10 at Kings Inter High. It has it's good sides and it's bad sides. My duaghter attends classes and is motivated (to an extent) to do the work needed. The platform took some getting used to but now she is very much self-directed. The teachers are good. For my SEN kid having breaks during the day is hugely helpful. I wfh full time so certainly don't have time to HE properly so this is a god-send! Some of the support for parents can be a bit flaky but we normally get there in the end!

HI all I am in the same situation my daughter refuses to go to school and looking for alternatives.

Can anyone please reach out to me for some advice as I have no clue where to go and to whom to go to ask for any help

The £2 tuition hub can be a much cheaper alternative at £60 per course per year (it doesn't include fees to sit the exams, you need to sort that out yourself): IGCSE/GCSE Info Library It also offers opt-in online forum/zoom "social pods" between the pupils.