Jemima Reeve

I joined King’s InterHigh in October 2016, after realising that conventional sixth form wasn’t going to work for me. I hadn’t been enjoying school for a couple of years, and found that a lot of aspects of physical school aggravated my chronic pain conditions.
I knew that I couldn’t manage my health and get the grades I wanted unless I found another option – which is when I found King’s InterHigh. As soon as I transferred my health problems became a lot easier to manage, and I started to enjoy school again.

Getting to lessons when I didn’t feel 100% was so much easier than at a physical school, and so I stopped missing out on so many lessons. I could manage my independent study and the volume of work I did each day depending on how I felt, working around my own limits while still getting everything done that I needed to.

Managing health issues, making friends and developing a ‘strong and disciplined’ work ethic

The class time was so valuable, with the platform making group discussion and sharing material with peers so easy, so I definitely never felt like I was learning on my own, and I made some really good friends through working together both in and outside of class. But, because of the nature of the format, every student has to be responsible for themselves during lesson time, which I found really encouraged me to be more active and engaged in lessons than I’d ever been before. Because the responsibility for my learning had been handed over to me, I really took ownership of my education for the first time, and formed a strong and disciplined worth ethic which I know will help me throughout my life.

With a lot more flexibility and with responsibility for my learning given back to me, I felt like I had independence in a way that I never had at physical school. I could manage my health problems, attend classes, and still engage in hobbies and skills outside of school. I learned how to manage my time and activities, without ever pushing myself too far or burning myself out. I managed to complete my Gold DofE award; be an online journalist; perform in local theatre productions, and keep up my social life, without my education or my health ever suffering.

Earning a place at a prestigious Russell Group UK university

After nearly two years at King’s InterHigh, I sat my A2 exams in May/June 2018, having felt supported and encouraged by my amazing teachers through the entire process. I achieved the A/B grades that I needed to get into my first-choice university – Queens Belfast – and I cannot wait to start studying English Literature with Creative Writing in September 2019, hopefully going on to become a primary school teacher. Before I go, I’m taking a year out to travel, volunteer, and get work experience. I know that without the independence, ability to manage my health problems, and determination and that I gained through King’s InterHigh, this would not be possible. I’m so grateful for my time with the school and cannot recommend it enough. As long as a student is willing to embrace independent study, self-responsibility, and being asked constantly what online school is like, then I think they’ll love King’s InterHigh!