While educational standards in Scotland have been historically impressive, they have experienced a steady decline in recent years, leaving many parents dissatisfied with the quality of education their child is receiving.
Public schools in Scotland offer the Scottish national Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), rather than the English National Curriculum taught in England. A small number of independent schools in Scotland, however, offer the English National Curriculum either exclusively or alongside the CfE.
This blog will cover the benefits of an online, English Curriculum-led education for children of school age studying in Scotland.
Home-education in Scotland
The legalities of homeschooling in Scotland
Home-education in Scotland is completely legal, with the law stating that parents must provide their child with an ‘efficient education’ suitable to their age, ability and aptitude either by enrolling them at a public school or by ‘other means’.
If your child is currently being educated at a public school in Scotland and you wish to home-school instead, you must write to your local authority as soon as possible requesting to withdraw them from school.
You should receive a response from the authority within six weeks, and they can only refuse consent in extreme circumstances (e.g. if the child is on the Child Protection Register).
In other circumstances, e.g. if your child has never attended a school in the area you currently live or if they had previously attended an independent school, there is no requirement by law to notify the local authority however it is recommended to do so.
Children who are being home-educated in Scotland are not required to follow the Scottish curriculum, and it is up to the parents to ensure their child receives a suitable education.
The English National Curriculum
With the UK ranking as one of the top education providers in the world, the English National Curriculum provides the structure for a high quality, in-depth education across a broad range of subjects.
The curriculum is organised into blocks of years called ‘key stages’. From Key Stage 3 (Year 9) and below, pupils are assessed termly to track their academic progress culminating in a report card provided by the school at the end of each term detailing their strengths and achievements as well as highlighting any areas to improve upon.
At Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11), pupils are guided through the GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) or international GCSE syllabus, in preparation for formal examinations at the end of Year 11.
From Key Stage 5 (Years 12-13 or Sixth Form), pupils move on to the GCE (General Certificate of Education) AS and A-Level (Advanced Level) syllabi, taking their final A-Level exams to complete their school career and help secure their place at university.
Online Schooling
With online schooling, children of school age are taught by fully qualified and experienced teachers in live online interactive lessons. Classes are taught following the English National Curriculum, and students are guided and supported through Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3, International GCSE and A-Level syllabi.
Class sizes are kept small to ensure that each child receives a more individualised style of learning, and teachers are better able to identify and meet each child’s unique needs. This means that each child’s learning is carefully supported, and progress can therefore be made more rapidly.
The primary function of online schooling is to support families who choose to home-educate. Online education provides the structure and content of an English Curriculum education, while retaining the freedom, flexibility and all the other benefits that home-based learning has to offer.
Here are a few of the benefits of an online, English Curriculum-based education for children in Scotland:
1. A Clear pathway to achieving internationally recognised qualifications
My Online Schooling guides students through Key Stage 2 right through to their International GCSE and A-Level examinations, which are externally assessed at an examination centre in your local area. International GCSE and A-Level qualifications are recognised and highly accredited by colleges and universities worldwide, and provide a necessary stepping stone towards university.
Because online schooling models itself on a traditional British school, home-schooling families are provided with a clear structure for their child’s learning with the aim of providing them with a solid, well-rounded education, furthering their future higher-education and career prospects.
This also means parents’ time is freed up so that they can go to work or take care of other day-to-day responsibilities which may not be possible when they’re focused on teaching their children.
2. An affordable alternative to private British Curriculum schooling
In Scotland, the majority of schools follow the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence which was implemented in 2010. However, a few independent schools in Scotland offer either an exclusively British Curriculum-led education, or a choice, usually in the secondary years, between the CfE or the British Curriculum.
Private school fees in Scotland, however, are notably high, and without funding may be prohibitively expensive for some families wishing to provide their children with a British Curriculum education.
My Online Schooling provides a more affordable alternative to Scottish independent schooling, offering the same high standard of British education at a fraction of the cost of private school fees and without any year-long contracts to tie you down.
Young people from Scotland have the benefit of receiving home-status for Scottish university fees, meaning that they are fully funded by the government to attend university in Scotland. This is not exclusive to those who have received a Scottish curriculum education; Scottish young people who have been schooled via the British National Curriculum are free to enjoy this privilege also.
3. Individualised learning tailored to your child’s needs
A major complaint among families opting out of mainstream education in Scotland is that class sizes are becoming too large, making it difficult for teachers to give each child the attention they need and deserve.
My Online Schooling combats this issue by ensuring class sizes never exceed 20 pupils at a time. Smaller class sizes provide a more personalised learning experience, and teachers are better placed to adapt to each individual child’s pace and style of learning as needed. It also means there is less chance for distractions and disruptions, creating a more focused and productive environment for pupils to learn in.
Our teachers also have a wealth of experience working with children who have special educational needs and/ or mental or physical health issues. Upon enrolling, teachers are made aware of each child’s situation and can therefore provide an individualised education which is sensitive and accommodating to their specific needs.
Summary
My Online Schooling provides the perfect platform for children to receive an Outstanding British Education Online. Families are provided with a clear, comprehensive structure to their home-schooling day following the highly sought-after English National Curriculum taught at traditional British schools across the country as well as internationally at a fraction of the cost.
Home-schooled pupils and families are supported every step of the way, from Key-Stage 2 to iGCSE and A-level exams, preparing them for a professional future as citizens of a new technology-focused world.
Get in touch
If you’d like to get in touch, please contact us on +44 800 031 4340 or email admissions@myonlineschooling.com
We are also available to talk to you between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm Monday to Friday (UK time), through the live chat feature in the bottom right of the website.
Alternatively please complete our Enquiry Form here, and we will be in touch with you to discuss any questions you have.
We look forward to hearing from you!