Choosing to change your child’s school isn’t a decision that any parent takes lightly. Many of us with children will have weathered moments when our kids complain about hating school, being bored in lessons, having friendship issues or feeling low (and probably we made the same complaints ourselves!). Largely, these issues resolve quietly over time. However, for some pupils, school life remains upsetting and stressful and it’s often around January and February, once the ‘new start’ after a difficult first term hasn’t worked out, that parents step in with alternatives. 

It’s no secret that online learning in the UK is growing in popularity as an alternative to bricks-and-mortar education, used by pupils with an increasingly broad set of educational, social and emotional requirements who love the flexibility; from elite performers and anxious learners to children with SEND and those who frequently move countries. So if you’re wondering if online school might work for your child, read our candid interviews with a diverse range of pupils at King’s InterHigh, the UK’s leading online school, about why they’ve chosen to learn digitally – and whether the reality has lived up to the hype. 

Grace, Year 13 

Reason for attending: Focusing on academics and self-growth 

I didn’t have a particularly good experience at my previous school. It was full of distractions, and I was struggling there in terms of socialisation as well. I didn’t really have a self-identity; I was following everybody else. Then, all of a sudden, COVID hit and I moved to King’s InterHigh. I can still remember the day -11 Jan 2021 – it’s etched on my memory. And it was honestly the best life decision ever. 

A lot of people think that online school is about being alone, but I’ve found that without the physical element, I can express myself better. The majority of my closest friends are at King’s InterHigh and they’re not just online – I’ve met some of them in real life too. This year, I went to an Elvis exhibition in London, and one of my friends lives in London and said, “Why don’t we just meet? Wouldn’t that be amazing?” So, I thought, “Let’s do it”, and it was amazing! 

Other close friends at King’s InterHigh are further away – I have a friend in Italy and one in Denmark, but I feel like I’ve met my ‘people’. I’ve been called such lovely things. Somebody the other day said I was an inspiration and a model student, and that made me so happy because that’s what I’d like to be. I love engaging with people, getting into conversation, collaborating and working together. In subject support group sessions, I like to help others if they’re struggling with their work, and explaining it to them helps me, too. 

In my old school, I was in the lowest sets for everything, but I’ve worked hard here, and my GSCE results were really good – my mum wrote them all on my big whiteboard! After A Levels this summer, I’m not sure what to do. Psychology is my passion subject, but I’m thinking of taking a gap year first, then maybe an apprenticeship or university – I’m definitely not finished with education. 

Lucas, 16 

Reason for attending: Dyslexia-friendly learning and flexibility to focus on professional sport 

I’m an Austrian alpine skier, so I compete a lot, and I’m also dyslexic, so trying to combine school life, the stress of learning, my skiing commitments as well as a sideline in fashion within the Austrian school system has been hard. I always felt that at school there was something missing, I just wasn’t entirely comfortable, and in the end, my mum and I were both like, “We need to try something different”. So three years ago, I moved to King’s InterHigh, and it’s really working out for me here. 

What really caught my eye initially was that the lessons are recorded, which is incredible for me. I can do my ski training in the morning and do my lessons in the afternoon . I can do it at my own pace, really take my time, and scroll back if I need to, so there’s much less pressure. I’m much more confident academically. My mum has always told me to view my dyslexia as a superpower, but in my previous schools, I always felt like I was trying to catch up. 

Here, meeting other people who are like me, with similar challenges and experiences, has helped, and school has become much more fun. I did think online school might be isolating and lonely, and to be fair, it does depend on the support and programme that’s built around you, but I’m meeting new people and experiencing new lifestyles all the time here, and I love it—it’s completely different from normal everyday school life. 

In terms of academics, the shorter days and flexibility suit me as they help with my attention, and the study techniques help too – 25 minutes of school, then have a 10-minute break, then repeat, and the break should always be in fresh air with no electronics. If you study like me, with lots of time off, you do need to be quite disciplined, and it can be hard – I definitely need to be pushed by my mum! My grades are going up now and I’m taking my IGCEs this year, then it’s A levels. After that, I’m going focus on my ski career and the path ahead for me in fashion, too; it’s exciting. 

Isabella, Year 10 

Reason for attending: A new start after negative school experiences 

I change schools frequently because of my dad’s job – we move countries every three years or so and a few months back I returned to the UK after time in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand. I’ve been to over 10 schools, no joke, so I’m always the ‘new’ student, and it’s tough – no matter how hard I’ve tried, other people have been really judgmental and rude, particularly because I have quite a big social media presence. I started in a bricks-and-mortar school when I first returned to Britain, but it was getting really bad, which is why I moved to King’s InterHigh. 

It’s definitely a good idea to join an online school if you’re getting bullied. You don’t have to turn on your camera or use your microphones if you’re not feeling comfortable. I’m not really a ‘social’ person, but I have made some friends here because we have these breakout rooms where we can talk to each other. We also have events – field trips and meet-ups that you can choose to go on. 

One thing that I really like here is the way you study. You learn a lot. It’s easier to concentrate because you don’t have people next to you talking in class. Here you can just listen to the teacher and there’s more focus – it just feels more advanced and calm, and you also learn to work in your own free time, as there are pre-recorded videos that go along with the live lessons. I definitely recommend it here. I’m studying for 9 GCSEs and will stay at King’s InterHigh for my A levels. 

Mirko, Year 8 

Reason for attending: Pastoral support and frequent travel 

It was hard for me at my previous school because it was very busy and noisy; I often felt anxious and overwhelmed and I couldn’t concentrate in class; my mind would wander. I like quiet and space, and that also made it difficult for me to socialise with the other children. I suppose I’m quite young to move to an online school, but it has felt like a really good decision because the emotional support at King’s InterHigh is really good. They help with my social skills here with special classes, so I have made some friends. I also go to weekly anxiety management classes called ‘Reflect’, which are one-to-ones with my tutor, which have been really good for helping me to relax and find techniques to cope when I feel things are getting too much. 

I like the fact that learning here is so flexible. It helps with my concentration that it’s not a typical ‘school day’, and I’ve improved a lot academically. The other good thing about the mix of recorded and live teaching is that it allows me to travel a lot with my mum and dad. In the last year, we’ve been to America, the Bahamas, and France, and we’re off to Tunisia on Saturday – King’s InterHigh is very good for my parents’ social life! But the main thing for me personally is that I don’t feel like I struggle any more and I’m happy. 

For more information King’s InterHigh school, contact Enquiries where you can also find the latest online Open Days.