How to choose an online school: 8 important criteria

How to choose an online school: 8 important criteria

Here’s what you need to pay attention to if you decide to switch to distance learning. We tell you how to choose an online school for family education.

Starting homeschooling is a big decision that needs to be carefully prepared. Consider how to choose an online school, using the example of the Foxford External School and Home School.

Criterion 1. Availability of a license

The first thing to look at is: does this organization have the right to teach anyone?

A license for educational activities is a document that gives the organization the right to carry out educational activities on the territory of the Russian Federation.

If an online school has a license to provide GCSE group tuition in the UK, you can be calm – such an organization is engaged in educational activities legally. Since an online school complies with licensing requirements, it means that it is confidently standing on its feet and working for the long term. Use the Rosobrnadzor website to check for a license.

Criterion 2. Teaching staff

A good teacher is half the battle. Make sure that the online school is taught by qualified professionals in their field.

The Foxford home online school employs teachers from leading UK universities — Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, London State University, and National Research University Higher School of Economics. Among them are candidates of sciences, methodologists, authors of textbooks, and winners of olympiads.

Criterion 3. Carrying out attestations

Certification is a confirmation of the knowledge and skills of the child. It can be a test, a test, a test, and an exam. It is customary to divide attestations into three types: current, intermediate, and final.

If the child plans to study at home, intermediate and final assessments will be relevant. If the finals are given only twice during school life – in grades 9 and 11 – then intermediate ones usually take place once a year, every quarter, or half a year. Intermediate assessments are not yet mandatory, but most distance-learning families in online schools take them regularly to practice for the upcoming final exams.

To pass the certification, you need to attach to an accredited school. That’s why it’s important to find out in advance if the online school you choose will help with this process.

To make an assessment as easy as possible for students, Foxford Online Home School has partnered with several accredited schools. The student will be able to solve work without stress, at a comfortable pace, and in a comfortable environment.

Criterion 4. Reviews

One of the win-win options to understand which online school to choose is to get acquainted with its reputation and read what customers write.

The reviews of Foxford’s online home school, which are freely available, most often praise mentors, convenient schedules, and teachers who are passionate about their work.

But Foxford adequately perceives constructive criticism, the specialists of the online school try to respond promptly to the wishes and recommendations of students and parents.

Criterion 5. Platform interface

With distance learning, the website and educational platform of the selected online school is very important, because almost all of the child’s education will take place there. Make sure the interface is easy to use and intuitive.

Foxford Home Online School makes sure that students can easily navigate the site and their personal accounts.

Orientation for new members

Learning online is very different from attending classes in person. You want to choose a school that will help you make a smooth transition to online learning. Many leading options will have consultants to help you get started and adjust to this form of training.

Some online universities will also provide course samples so you can try out online learning before you decide to commit. Browsing through a few free courses will also help you choose the right online degree options.

Criterion 6. Customer focus

It is equally important that there is someone to contact with questions about studies. For example, discuss the content of a particular online course in UK. For educational questions, students and parents can contact the teaching and methodological department by clicking on the flag during the assignment in our online school.

A personal mentor guides the child from start to finish. He is constantly in touch, the child can easily share problems, discuss issues of concern and get a dose of motivation. Mentors are usually senior students and university graduates who have experience working with children. They have recently studied at school and know firsthand what difficulties may arise in the educational process.

Criterion 7. Additional chips

It is good if the online school takes care to create and maintain a friendly atmosphere in the student community. Extra-curricular activities in distance learning are just as nice addition as in a regular school.

For example, Foxford External and Home School organize offline meetings, excursions, and field trips. This helps the children to get to know each other, unite, learn to communicate and socialize, and parents to exchange experiences and learn new things.

Criterion 8. Student results

It is possible to objectively assess how high-quality education a particular school provides, according to the statistics of the results of the Unified State Examination and the OGE. If you want your child to achieve his goals, successfully graduate from school and enter a cool university, go to a place where the results of the students speak for themselves.

Foxford graduates pass the USE 20% better than the Russian average.

School experience

Although online learning has become quite popular, it is still a new concept. You want to make sure your education is in good hands by choosing a school that has a history of online learning.

Look for a school that has experience with online options and has a reputation for using the best technology. You can check this useful information by visiting the college website and reading the “About the UK” page.

Summary

To understand which online school to choose, we recommend considering several criteria. Be sure to check the license – the organization must have the right to conduct its activities. Find out who will teach the child. Read the reviews and get acquainted with the academic success of the school’s graduates.

Good luck with choosing a school!