Struggling with choosing an online school

[Buzymum85]

we are looking to homeschool my 13yr old daughter who is struggling in mainstream, but we cannot decide on a school. She has already done a trial week with Eureka online school and I just felt it wasn’t for her. Has anyone used Elea school? I willing to do more trials but she is still enrolled in her current school.

I teach in this field if you want to pm me,

I home educate my tween/teen DC but we don’t use online schools so can’t give you any specific advice but I know lots use Kings Interhigh. There is also the £2 tuition hub and Learn Laugh Play.

Thank you I will look into this

Also while I'm at it - Cambridge Home School is very good but a lot more expensive. So if you've got the money, it's something to look into. The class sizes are less than 10 and it's all live lessons. I have been doing a lot of research so I feel like an expert now.

Sounds like the usual undisclosed self promo...this school has been caught out before posting about themselves and pretending it’s not them. Looks like they’re still at it years later 🙄. People need to be aware!

@OneDeepDeer I thought the exact same about what the same poster said about Interhigh and Minerva, (which I know to be a misrepresentation) and then going on to promote another brand new online school - whose head did the same on yet another thread recently that was deleted. I didn't mind that one really as struck me as just a mistake from a new to mumsnet HT sharing their new venture with no attempt to hide their role, but I really dislike the posts posing as parents. I work for an online school and follow these threads with interest but I don't promote mine (my role is secure and I'm not in the marketing department). Horrified by that old thread you linked to, it really is the Wild West of education.

Parents looking for a new online school - please do your homework - the DfE brought in an accreditation scheme for a reason, until 2023 the sector was completely unregulated. There are currently 8 - here are their Ofsted reports. https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Search?tok=8UqvAYCff* . This is voluntary for schools, those who can't meet the requirements either wont apply or won't meet them but that won't be published to warn you.

The BBC published this just last week: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clye4396wdxo

That's not to say that some of the unaccredited schools may not provide great teaching and be a good choice for your DC, and will invariably be more budget friendly, but please do a lot of research and speaking to actual parents, not just ones suggested by the head teacher!

As a SENCO I have used the following for young people who need support out of school

Academy21
Nisai
TUTE

I find TUTE very responsive
You will need to find an exam centre for when she does her GCSEs which can be difficult

Hi @Buzymum85 we are in the same boat (now Aug 2025) looking for 13 yr old and trying to understand the many online school options - did you settle on one in the end and can you share why you chose that one over others? we are looking for a supportive school with strong pastoral care but the costs seem to go quite high - Thanks

@Dadspinninghed do have a look at the two face book groups HEFA home education for all and UK exams & alternatives - as there’s lots of information and options discussed on how to build a home education that may not look like “school.” We are facilitating home education for our DD through iGCSEs using a range of independent providers for different subjects as one size or approach doesn’t fit all. For example theatre of science, south west sciences, maths genie and absolute maths are used by many. Hope you find something that works for your 13yr.