A broader view to the world: What US-based Ava has gained with King’s InterHigh

The challenges in US education

Private, public, Catholic, charter schools, and even conservatories for the arts – you name it, Ava has experienced it over the last few years.

Most recently, in 2020, Ava’s family moved from Louisiana to Texas, and Ava left her private Catholic school for a performing arts school which, as the family discovered, didn’t align with their values. She moved back to the public American education system, before trying online education for the first time.

Their first online curriculum, however, didn’t provide students with enough accountability for their schoolwork. “Ava is not good at being left to her own devices,” her mother Tamie explains. “Just giving her coursework and deadlines and not holding her accountable doesn’t work – she needs the accountability.”

So, the search for a suitable school resumed. This time, Tamie was particularly interested in two elements: a school that is fully online, and that offers live lessons. “We looked at many other online schools, primarily those that taught live classes because she needs that interactivity,” Tamie shares. They wanted a school that could provide the necessary academic rigour while accommodating their family’s values and lifestyle.

Joining King’s InterHigh

Ava joined King’s InterHigh last October and, in less than one year, Tamie can already see how King’s InterHigh suits their lifestyle, values, and plans, much better than any other school Ava attended.

Focus on education

One key reason for this is that at King’s InterHigh, students are focused on their learning, and free from outside distractions. When it comes to socialising, Ava already has an established, close-knit group of friends, who she meets often for church activities. She isn’t heavily into social media or online socialising, but using school purely for learning has allowed her to deepen her friendships within her community.

A global lens

Aside from enabling Ava to focus solely on learning a high-quality, British curriculum, King’s InterHigh offers a global perspective. “It provides a ‘world’ view, not just a US view of things. It pushes her to think and challenges her more than her previous schools,” Tamie shares.

Ava’s family, avid watchers of British broadcasting channels like BBC for their global news coverage, appreciates how Ava can discuss current events in her morning classes. This exposure to a broader range of perspectives has been instrumental in shaping Ava’s understanding of the world.

Additionally, subjects like international relations help Ava build a well-rounded perspective on world news and trends, which Tamie finds invaluable. “International relations is a great class to have to understand what is going on in the world,” Tamie says. This global approach to education prepares students for a future that is increasingly interconnected.

Looking ahead and defining passions

Having multiple interests and talents can be challenging when it comes to deciding what subjects to specialise in and, eventually, what career to work towards. “She loves to learn new things,” Tamie shares. “She has always been a bit of a smarty pants and wants to know more than anybody else.”

However, King’s InterHigh has helped Ava home in on her biggest interests and career aspirations. She wants to work with animals, endangered species, and wildlife. “The anticipation of staying at King’s for the long term helped her focus on what she wants to do so she can maximise what she learns in classes.”

In the United States, there are different classes every year, so it can be difficult to understand where your passions and talents truly lie. The British curriculum provided by King’s InterHigh offers more consistency and security in knowing what subjects you will learn over the next years. “This consistency helped her decide on the path she wants to take career-wise because she knows that the next four years will help her get there,” Tamie shares.

Flexibility

The flexibility of King’s InterHigh is another significant benefit, especially as the family often relocates for business and is planning to move abroad later this year. With King’s InterHigh, Tamie doesn’t have to worry about Ava missing school or developing learning gaps. The school just goes wherever the family goes.

When it comes to online schools, Tamie feels like King’s InterHigh has a leg up because of the teaching and personalised experience. “That is such a game-changer,” Tamie says. “The live teaching and flexible structure are beneficial for a student that needs engagement, which a lot of students do, they can’t just be left alone.” Being able to ask questions and always interact with teachers, to have a world view of things, and to have the flexibility to learn, is what, in Tamie’s perspective, really differentiates King’s InterHigh from other schools.

The 24/7 access to class recordings is also beneficial for Ava and her family. Ava gets up at 2:30 AM to do classes because she is studying in a UK time zone. She has a clear structure to her day, but if there is a day when the family wants to go to town or do something different, they have the flexibility to go, and Ava can always pick up her classes. Though, Tamie notes, that is an exemption to the rule. “On the day to day, she needs the live interaction, but it’s great to have that possibility to review classes when needed.”

On the move

Ava has aspirations to attend a UK university, inspired by her positive experience with King’s InterHigh. “We don’t really want to stay in the States, so our goal is to move out,” her mother shares. The family appreciates the easier process of applying to universities outside the US and the broader opportunities it provides.

While there are still a few years to go until the time comes to apply for university, King’s InterHigh is preparing Ava for a future that is increasingly more globalised, and giving her the possibility to continue to thrive academically, wherever she moves to.