King's InterHigh School is a UK-based on-line school teaching the UK National Curriculum and IB Diploma for children from Year 3 to 13 located within the UK and internationally. It has added a Middle East programme to cater to Gulf time-zones.

The story so far...

King's InterHigh School (known as InterHigh until November 2021) is the original online school with over 17 years of experience educating more than 10,000 students worldwide. Established in 2005, the school delivers live, interactive and online teaching, and it currently has around 1,500 students worldwide, 30% from outside the UK. Enrolling boys and girls aged seven to 19 years, InterHigh offers Primary, Secondary, IGCSE, A Level and IB courses for Years 3-13.

From September 2022, the school  became the first and only school in the world to offer the IB Diploma Programme completely online. King's InterHigh has been selected by the International Organisation to pilot a fully online IBDP course for students aged 16-19 internationally. The IBO currently works with Pamoja Education to offer online courses for the IB Diploma (and the IB Career-related Programme), but this will be the first fully online Diploma Programme. We understand that the pilot has now been extended.

In 2020, the school expanded to tailor the delivery of its programmes to meet the needs of families in the Gulf - with an additional timetable on the GST timezone to suit UAE students - providing a recognised UK curriculum at a fraction of the fees required in their UAE-based physical schools.

King's InterHigh was purchased in May 2021 by Inspired Education Group. Inspired - described as a leading global group of premium schools - educates over 50,000 students in over 70 schools across five continents, including the British School of Bahrain and Knowledge Gate International School in Muscat, Oman.

King’s College Online, part of Inspired, and InterHigh (formally owned by Wey Education) intend to bring together the best of the two schools, building on the 50 years of academic delivery from the King's Group together with the Interhigh focus on on-line learning to deliver a complete school experience that nurtures students through their journey as whole individuals.

The combined student numbers of the two merged online schools is now 4,000 and the schools work across all countries with a timetable that is specific to UK and to Gulf Standard Time. Students may join these timetables or choose to watch recordings if some of the timing of lessons do not coincide with their timezone.

Kings InterHigh explained that "While day-to-day teaching and learning will continue to evolve for students, their experience will be immediately bolstered through a number of new appointments and offerings."

Whilst the curriculum will remain unchanged, investment in additional resources has allowed the appointment of single class teachers across subjects per form in Key Stage 2 to "create a familiar, nurturing environment for our younger students".  Heads of School at each Key Stage (from KS2-KS5) ensure students are guided effectively at every stage of their development, including a dedicated Primary Head with experience in primary education.

In addition to interactive, online classroom activities; opportunities to engage with peers and teachers, 24/7 access to content and pastoral support, King's InterHigh students benefit from access to the wider Inspired Group’s network of schools with both online and offline learning experiences.  Students also have access to the premium physical facilities and are able to spend time across Inspired’s 70+ schools across the world through camps and exchange programmes.

The international learning opportunities are virtual also, with extracurricular events and experiences including the Model United Nations and Student Leadership Conference.  This forms part of King's InterHigh's rounded approach to developing 21st Century skills and building a virtual community between the students, alongside the academic experience of the school.

The King's InterHigh School calendar closely follows the UAE calendar. Each year is a 35 week academic year.  Students must be aged 7+ (Year 3 onwards) to join the King's InterHigh programme - the school does not take students in Foundation Stage or Years 1 and 2.  This accords with UAE regulations where students do not legally have to attend school until the year in which they turn six years (usually Year 1), but may postpone entry until the age of 8.

King's InterHigh says that it “delivers a fully interactive British and international education to the comfort of your home or wherever you may be. Our unique online school offers the best in Primary, Secondary, IGCSE and A Level courses, as well as the world's first fully online IB Diploma programme, delivered by expert teachers. We are able to offer you everything you expect from a school, as part of an online school community that revolves around you!”

The addition of the Gulf timetable has taken place since a significant percentage of King's InterHigh students are from the Middle East region and the school explains that "To benefit these students, we offer a Middle East timetable operating at the local GST timezone. This means students attend King's InterHigh during normal school hours without starting late in the morning or running late in to the evening". The school operates a Monday to Friday week - with some flexibility to study Sunday to Thursday if preferred - and also applies public holidays within the UAE.

The Ethos of King's InterHigh as explained as follows:

“At King's InterHigh, we welcome students to an online school community that revolves around their lifestyles. We deliver high quality virtual educational experiences to all our students, fostering a sense of belonging and respect for one another as well as providing the skills to solve real world problems through a love of lifelong learning”.

According to King's InterHigh, the curriculum is taught by expert, experienced staff whose passion for their subject "is matched by their motivation and energy to see every student succeed". All teachers on the GST timetable are UK qualified and experienced teachers, and many have worked in international schools across the Middle East and Far East. The flexibility that the on-line programme offers means that students can enjoy a range of clubs, societies, seminars or catch up with friends in the common room or on the school’s own social platforms.

In general, students are arranged into class tutor groups with a maximum of 20 children. All lessons are taught live by experienced teachers. The learning platform offers all learners the opportunity to participate in continuous learning activities, as well as access to live lesson recordings 24 hours a day. Once lessons are over, students can participate in a range of clubs, courses, seminars or catch up with friends on King's InterHigh’s own school social media platform. 

Pastoral staff are always available to support learners in whatever way best suits the individual and the school leadership team is available for guidance and advice. The school says that it addresses the academic, pastoral and social needs of each student individually.

What about the curriculum?

King's InterHigh offers a full UK curriculum from Key Stage 2 (Year 3) to post-16. With the EYFS curriculum for Foundation Stage children being largely play-based and, and through its extension, Key Stage 1 students (Year 1 and 2), King's InterHigh does not offer these early years of education.

As students move through the school they study a full range of IGCSE, AS and A Level courses.  From September 2022, King's InterHigh became the first school globally to offer a fully online IB Diploma programme. Initially the programme will operate based on the school's UK timetable only. 

The Key Stage 2, 3, 4 and 5 curricula are taught by qualified, trained and experienced staff.  The learning platform enables students to watch missed lessons back in full, enabling students to solidify their learning or the flexibility to plan their own timetable, so that they are not tied to a rigid school timetable and are able to pursue their own interests, hobbies, pastimes and goals during the daytime if this suits them and their families better.

King's InterHigh Juniors, for students from Years 3 to 6, is designed with younger students in mind. Based on the English National Curriculum, King's InterHigh says that it offers the same quality, flexibility and accessibility as the secondary school, but tailored to suit the needs of younger students. Teachers are subject specialists with expert knowledge and training to deliver engaging content online. Students can expect quizzes and games, interactive exercises balanced with lessons developed around 21st Century skills (empathy, digital literacy, resilience) designed to provide children with a love of learning and a solid foundation for their future education.

King's InterHigh Juniors students study a core package of seven subjects, which includes English, Maths and Science, Humanities, STEM and Creative Media, with a choice of Arabic or French specifically for Gulf students. King's InterHigh Junior students also have weekly Tutorials and their own weekly Common Room with projects, activities and guest speakers. The school goes beyond the purely academic with students forming part of house groups for competitions,and team building and have opportunities for personalised sessions with tutors to ensure appropriate support, guidance and well-being.

Parents are given their own access to the school portal which provides constant information about their son or daughter’s progress, feedback and assignments. This is supplemented by regular written feedback from teachers.

In the Secondary school, lessons are taught via ‘Lead’ and ‘Explore’ lessons. Lead lessons resemble masterclasses (or university style lectures) where much larger groups have the same new subject content delivered to them at the same time, by lead teachers in the subject. The ‘Explore lessons’ are the more traditional exercise lessons (similar to tutorials and seminars) in much smaller groups, where the understanding of the new subject content is explored.

The syllabus in Secondary school for Key Stage 3 (Years 7 to 9) includes subjects aimed at engaging students, giving them the chance to discover which subjects they have a passion for before making their IGCSE choices at the end of Year 9. For flexibility, students can also trial the school on a half term basis before deciding if they want to join for a longer period.

Key Stage 3’s eight subjects including the core academic elements of Maths, English and Science, along with a further five subjects from the following options: Creative Media, Computer Science, French, Geography, History, Music, or STEM. All students' timetables cover the core pastoral subjects, including Assembly  and Reflect sessions, Further subjects can be studied for an additional fee.

At Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11), all core IGCSE subjects follow the Edexcel exam board. There are exam centres throughout the Middle East, with the majority of King's InterHigh families entering their children as private candidates with the British Council, though there are also a number of international schools where students can register to take their exams.

It should be noted that – in common with physical schools located in the UAE – joining King's Interhigh for Year 11 (the second year of the IGCSE programme) is not currently possible.

King's InterHigh offers a core of eight  IGCSE examination courses online, including the Core subjects of English Language, English Literature and Maths, and a choice of sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics). Students can choose four additional options from the remaining subjects, including History, Geography, Business, Computer Science, Further Maths, French and Arabic. Further subjects can be added for additional fees.

In addition to the IGCSE subjects, King's InterHigh offers a range of non-examined 'Assured subjects'. Assured subjects include Photography Perspectives, Computer Game Development, International Relations: Perspectives, Art and Design in Action, Health and Wellbeing Management, Drama and Performance in Practice, Art and Design in Action, and Music in Culture and Society.

As a further option, for students who do not wish to complete the core IGCSE subjects, King's InterHigh offers a ‘Learning on Demand’ package which allows students to study just one, two or three subjects. They can also decide on the duration of their enrolment – a week, a half term, a full term or a complete academic year.  This is a potential option for students who may wish to resit IGCSE's.

Finally at Key Stage 5 (Sixth Form/Years 12 and 13), King's InterHigh offers easy access to live and recorded Sixth Form lessons from anywhere in the world, with a choice of studying the UK curriculum of A Levels or the IB Diploma Programme, so students can study when and how they want.. 

The Sixth Form A Level curriculum is delivered through a combination of Learn “Master Class” Sessions followed by smaller tutorials and seminars, and is designed with Sixth Form students in mind. The class sizes ensure the subject matter experts deliver engaging and relevant content as well as provide flexibility for personalised learning. Typically, students studying three online A Levels are only committed to 10 hours of live timetabled classes each week. Students communicate with the teacher and each other through a wide variety of medium including voice, text, whiteboard, notes, recordings, presentations, screen sharing and co-web browsing. 

For students studying in the UAE, IGCSE, AS and A Level options are currently somewhat limited compared with the options available in the UK and other international countries. However, King's InterHigh as informed us that many students choose to take additional or alternative subjects studying in line with the UK timetable.

Gulf-based students may choose up to five options at AS Level, with a choice from Physics or Psychology, Biology or Economics, Maths, Chemistry, and Computer Science or English Literature.

By contrast UK/other international options much broader - Biology (Intl), Business, Chemistry, Chemistry (Intl), Classical Civilisation, Economics, English Language, French, Further Maths, German, Geography, History, Law, Media, Physics (Intl), Politics, Sociology and Spanish.

No doubt the success of the take up of Years 12 and 13 by Gulf students will determine whether additional subjects will be made available in the future.

With the launch of   the IBDP, King's InterHigh students will study the same IB programme that is taught in physical IB schools. This will include the Theory of Knowledge (ToK), Extended Essay (EE), and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS). Students will also sit the IB exams for each of their six subjects during May of their second year. 

The academic entry requirements for the new IB Diploma Programme are seven GCSE/IGCSE passes at Grade 6 or higher, including Maths and English, or equivalent. Teaching of A Level and IB subjects clearly need to be specifically tailored to address the demands of the exam boards and of the subjects. This has led to some significant adaptation for the IB Diploma Programme students.

Unlike other curricula, a core aspect of the IB Diploma Programme and its inquiry-based approach to learning is the independent research and learning aspect of the IBDP; one that is highly regarded by universities. Rather than teachers providing the knowledge first, subject specialists devise a series of investigatory questions where students are required to conduct their own research in small groups and independently. 

Once students have formed their own ideas and opinions, they participate in a teacher-led knowledge session. In these lessons, subject specialist teachers deliver in-depth lectures covering all the important content. Students are provided with a wealth of resources to guide their learning. At this stage, learners can begin making comparisons between their own investigation and their teachers’ expertise.  For Higher Level subjects, students participate in a second Knowledge lesson covering additional material. 

The next stage is students’ participation in Explore lessons, where they combine everything they have learned over the week. Explore lessons are small group seminar sessions, where teachers lead students in discussions and targeted work. Bringing together their own independent inquiry with the expert knowledge that they have received in the Knowledge classes, students explore each topic in greater depth, developing a comprehensive understanding of everything they have learned. For Higher Level subjects, students will participate in a second Explore lesson covering additional material. 

The fourth stage is composed of weekly assessments where students complete an assessment task to measure their progress.  These range from quizzes to written assignments, and show both students (and their teachers) how much they have learned over the course of week. Not only does this keep both students (and teachers) on track with their academic progress, but these tasks help students determine where the next week’s focus for investigation and exploration should lie.

The approach does vary somewhat for specific subjects.  In Visual Arts, students able to become creative through hands-on work and interactive discussion. Knowledge lessons are replaced with one-to-one meetings for feedback on extended projects. Students also have access to guest speakers for workshops on creative techniques. 

For Language Acquisition, since the best way to learn a language is by practicing and communicating with others, Knowledge lessons are not conducted.  Whether students choose French, Spanish, or English, they build their skills through independent and interactive learning. 

For all students, two important elements of the Diploma Programme - the mandatory Core subjects of Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay – require alternative approaches.

For Theory of Knowledge, students participate in one Inquiry lesson and one Knowledge lesson each week. For the Extended Essay, which comprises a research project and a 4,000-word paper on a topic of the student's choosing, students receive one-to-one support from a subject specialist teacher throughout.

To address the practical aspects of learning, a particular area of innovation for IBDP students is the use of Virtual Reality, which extensive research shows can greatly increase student understanding.

Over the course of the IBDP online, students use virtual reality headsets in a variety of different ways.  For the best learning experience, students will not use their headsets in every class, but will instead, use them, where appropriate, to enhance their learning for each subject. Examples include conducting science experiments, going on virtual field trips, and practicing languages.

It is early days for the IBDP at Kings' InterHigh, but the fact the International Baccalaureate  Organisation has put its trust in Kings' InterHigh to deliver its most prestigious programme suggests that they fully expect to see successful IBDP graduates in the near future.

What about Academic Achievement?

According to King's InterHigh, in 2019, of the school’s graduates who applied to university, 47% went to Russell Group Universities, with 10% studying Medicine or Aerospace Engineering.

Unfortunately the school does not provide details as to the percentage of their graduates who applied for university (nor indeed the actual number who graduated in that year) to enable an assessment of how successful these statistics really indicate graduates have been.

However, there is no question that King's InterHigh is serious about supporting their students’ university ambitions. The school says that its dedicated team supports students in their applications for university places. Staff help students write their personal statements and support them to submit a strong university (UCAS, Oxbridge, etc) application.

King's InterHigh has found that universities ‘like’ their students because they can provide evidence of ‘self-directed study’.  The school also regularly hosts career talks where students have the opportunity to learn from experts in different fields. Speakers share what inspires them, how they found their passion, and the realities of their profession. Students are encouraged to discuss with speakers and find out further details about a variety of careers.

What about Safeguarding?

As an entirely on-line based school, where parents will not have the opportunity to physically meet their children's teachers, and given the concerns about children's access to technology and the internet, King's InterHigh recognises “its legal and moral duty to promote the well-being of children, protect them from harm and respond to safeguarding concerns”.

Through their day-to-day contact with students and correspondence with families, King's InterHigh says that its staff at the school have a role to play in noticing safeguarding concerns and working with parents and appropriate agencies.

King's InterHigh says it is committed to the care, welfare and safety of the students receiving their service. They are committed to carrying out this duty of care through teaching and learning, extra-curricular activities, pastoral care and extended school activities.

In order to achieve this all members of staff, in whatever capacity, “will at all times act proactively in child welfare matters. Where there is a possibility that a child may be at risk of harm we will act immediately”.

The Buzz

The limited feedback that we have received from parents whose children have been educated by King's InterHigh over the past year or so of the Covid 19 pandemic has largely been very positive.  They have appreciated the Gulf timetable and delivery of lessons.

We would very much like to know more about the experience of families in the UAE who have chosen to go this on-line route.  Please share your experience with other parents and students by completing our Survey.

Our View

King's InterHigh is an online school that is long-established, and based on anecdotal feedback from parents in the UAE, delivers a high quality programme at least in the Primary section - we have not heard from parents of Secondary school students. Clearly, their programmes offer a flexible and highly affordable package for parents who are seeking a more affordable option during the difficulties of the pandemic, or may feel that this option is better suited to their children for the longer term. 

One word of warning. As the school is not UAE-based, though it does have a UK base, we are not aware if the regulators in the UAE would require or accept a transfer certificate to enable children to return to a physical school in the UAE. We would advise parents to check with their local regulator if they do choose this on-line option as a short-term measure with the intention of re-registering their children in a mainstream school in the UAE subsequently.

What about the fees?

For students registering for Key Stage 2 (Years 3 to 6), there is a non-returnable Registration Fee of £100 per child, payable upon submission of the Registration Form. Fees for the seven core subjects are £2,901 plus an additional fee of £275 per additional subject.

For students registering for Key Stage 3 (Years 7 to 9 ) fees are £4,031 per year for the eight subjects, plus £300 per additional subject. For Key Stage 4 - GCSEs (Years 10 and 11), Year 10 fees are £4,838 for the eight subjects, plus £570 per additional IGCSE subject and £375 per additional Assured subject. 

For Key Stage 5 (Years 12 and 13), fees are £2,340 for one A Level subject, £4,215 for two A Level subjects - £5,220 for three A Level subjects, £6,120 for four A Level subjects and £7,035. The IB Diploma Programme is £8,400. (Note direct entry to the second year of the IBDP programme is not possible in 2022).

When a place is accepted and if parents choose to pay monthly, a deposit of £1,000 is payable to King's InterHigh.  For children in Key Stages 2 and 3, the deposit will be returned at the end of the school year when any outstanding fees and other charges have been paid. For Key Stage 4 and 5, the deposit will be returned once any outstanding fees and other charges have been paid, and the student has fed back their exam results to the Head of Key Stage 4/5.

This school is in a Best School by parents ranking

King's InterHigh School is a Best of school, a ranking determined by parent surveys on the site. It can be found in the following Best of rankings:

• #130 in Best Schools in the UAE
• #28 in Best IB Schools in Dubai
• #49 in Best British Schools in Dubai
• #84 in Best Schools in Dubai
• #27 in Best IB DP Schools in Dubai

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