How innovative learning gives online sixth form students the advantage

But as new developments reshape today’s world and global competition becomes fiercer, how can you ensure your teen gets the best possible advantages? The key is wrapping up their school years with the right education pathway — like innovative online schooling, for example.

With online learning that goes beyond the four walls of a classroom, more and more sixth form students are getting the tools, support, and knowledge they need to prepare for their future goals. Whether your child aspires to go to a leading university or take on an exciting career, here’s how a more innovative sixth form education can get them there.

World-first opportunities

At King’s InterHigh, we’re always striving to pioneer new ways for students to get the best out of their education. With access to world-first opportunities before anyone else, our online sixth formers get to take advantage of new pathways to success that suit their way of learning.

Take the online IB, for example. In 2022, we became the first school to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme fully online for students all around the world. For families living in remote areas, young people with specific needs like medical conditions, and students looking for a more personalised way to learn, the online IB has been a gamechanger.

And, on top of widening access to an International Baccalaureate education, studying online has also been a way for students to balance this rigorous qualification with everything that’s important to them outside of school. One student, Varun, achieved 41 points in his IB Diploma this year and a place at Yale University, all while competing in international tennis tournaments. Maria, meanwhile, also scored an incredible 41 points and enjoyed the flexibility to travel, spend time with her family, and focus on her passions.

A Level students, meanwhile, now have the option to take their examinations online at home thanks to our groundbreaking partnership with leading board Pearson Edexcel. Invigilated remotely, this way of sitting exams opens the playing field for all the young people who have traditionally faced barriers to success, from anxiety to remote locations. Building on our online exams for IGCSEs, we’re excited to expand this pathway to King’s InterHigh A Levels from September 2025.

Cutting-edge learning tech

While traditional learning methods like teacher discussions and classroom collaboration are all key parts of online study, we’re also able to take education a step further with the power of technology. These days, everyone knows there’s more to learning than simply memorising facts from a textbook. Using the best proven educational tech tools, we leverage these effective learning principles to help our students get a deeper understanding of each new idea and put that knowledge to use in exams and beyond.

Virtual reality (VR) is one of the most exciting examples at King’s InterHigh. Each term, our IB Diploma students take multiple lessons in virtual reality for each subject. In an IB French lesson, for example, they may don their headsets to enter a boulangerie and have a real-life conversation to order their meal. In IB maths, they might venture into an environment where they can explore complex Voronoi diagrams in a more immersive way.

Rather than using technology as a gimmick, we make sure each tool we integrate into our learning model has real benefits for our students. Our research has found that VR learning, for example, boosts engagement, understanding, and outcomes. The same goes for all the other platforms sixth form students may use in their online learning, from science experiment simulations to multimedia projects. No matter the tool, technology works alongside our teaching to take learning to the next level.

Thorough exam preparation

No student should be left to cram frantically in the weeks before their A Level or IB Diploma exams with nothing more than a few revision sessions to help them. Instead, we’ve built gradual exam preparation into our online learning model, so students arrive at their exam season feeling ready and confident.

For example, cycle tests are our innovative way of helping students build their test confidence and spot any gaps in their knowledge while they still have time to fill them. These regular, low-stakes assessments test students’ knowledge throughout the year without the pressure of a real exam, so they can develop their exam techniques, timing, and knowledge over the course of their studies.

Naturally, lesson recordings are also a huge advantage for our sixth form students. At King’s InterHigh, classes are taught live and interactive, but every lesson is also recorded and made available to rewatch 24/7. Alongside ensuring that students never miss a crucial session (even if they’re unwell or occupied), lesson recordings are the perfect revision tool. When students come across a revision topic that they need more help with, they can simply revisit their lesson with all the benefits of their teachers’ explanations and their classmates’ insights.

Forward-thinking skills

There’s no doubt that grades are important, but today’s universities and employers look at more than just the numbers. More than ever, they want young people who can think independently, work with people from all around the world, adapt to new technologies, and more.

These are exactly the kinds of skills that online sixth form students build naturally over the course of their studies. For example, with the guidance of their teachers, our learners learn how to use the flexibility of online learning to their advantage. They learn to manage their time effectively, build their self-directed learning skills, and discover the organisation methods that work best for them.

Virtual classes, meanwhile, are the ideal space for students to learn how to communicate in digital environments and collaborate with international classmates. These are both crucial skills in our increasingly remote, globalised world of work. Whether your child wants to become a doctor one day, start their own business, or become a creative leader, these are the attributes that will help them on the way to success.

Personalised future guidance

What is your child aspiring to after sixth form? We know that every young person has different dreams; some want to become champion athletes, some want to go to top universities, and even no two Oxbridge students are alike. That’s why one-size-fits-all learning isn’t always the ideal pathway.

Alongside personalised learning, our online sixth formers also get personalised guidance for their dream futures. King’s InterHigh offers all the important support you’d expect from any top school (like personal statement workshops and university talks), but the help we offer doesn’t end there. From tools to help students find their perfect course to virtual work experience opportunities to weekly drop-in sessions for individual advice, we make sure each young person is equipped with the guidance they need to take on their ambition.