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Reasons Why Students Are Continuing with Online School Post-Lockdown

a student listening to a lecture being delivered by her teacher

While the online schooling system had been around for years, it recently started gaining popularity during the COVID-19 lockdown. Students could no longer attend physical classes. Instead, they had to receive online lessons via computers or laptops.

Online learning was expected to be a temporary solution to the conventional schooling crisis. However, it quickly became evident that this system was here to stay. Following the lockdown, students are still actively attending online classes across the globe, especially in the UK. Why?

In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the most prominent reasons why students are continuing with online school post-lockdown, and what does this tell us about the future of schooling? Keep reading.

1. Easy Access to Technology

For starters, the online schooling model has continued to thrive owing to the significant increase in access to technology.

According to research, internet access in the UK is at an all-time high: a whopping 96%. With access to computers, laptops, and a stable Wi-Fi connection, students can easily attend online classes from the comfort and safety of their homes.

A decade ago, access to information and communications technology (ICTs) was relatively low. However, in 2022, the large majority of students in the UK have the option of attending online classes without any obstacles. This factor has played a big role in sustaining the popularity of the online learning model.

2. High Quality of Education

a student being coached by his teacher in Mumbai

Many parents worry that their children will struggle to secure good grades once they switch to online schooling. This is a common and valid fear among parents.

Today, there are tens of thousands of online schools across the globe. During the COVID-19 lockdown, many new online schools were established. However, they lacked the experience and expertise required for providing a quality online learning experience to students.

Parents who sent their children to these institutions developed a negative perception of online schooling. The top online schools, however, provide a quality online learning experience to students.

At Cambridge Home School Online, we have a team of MA/MSc/PhD qualified teachers on board. Moreover, we use the illustrious Cambridge homeschool curriculum to help students cover greater academic ground, develop a good grasp of key concepts, and secure top grades.

In June 2021, 86% of our IGCSE students secured A*s and As in their target subjects. 83% of our A Level students secured two As and a B or higher, as requested by top universities. Moreover, all students who applied received offers from some of the best universities across the globe.

At CHS Online, quality schooling is our top priority. This is because we have over 20 years of experience as an institution. CHS Online was not set up during the COVID-19 lockdown; it was established in 2002 with one clear focus in mind: making quality schooling accessible. Since then, our teachers, education specialists, and staff have collectively helped thousands of students enjoy bright futures.

Our students attend some of the most prestigious universities across the globe, including Cambridge, Yale, Oxford, Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, Stanford, Berkeley, and John Hopkins, among several others.

Parents shoulder the responsibility of finding an exceptional online school for their children. The process shouldn’t be rushed at all. If you’re a parent, make sure you take your time, shortlist experienced online schools, meet with their faculty and education specialists, and make the best decision for your children.

When you select the right online school, the outcome is spectacular. This is one of the reasons why online schooling has continued to popularise. Parents aren’t worried about the quality of schooling anymore. They select the top online institutions and ensure that their children are taught by the most qualified, experienced, skilled, and conscientious teachers in the UK.

To improve our quality of education, we keep the student-teacher ratio as low as possible. At CHS Online, 8-10 students are taught in a single classroom.

In comparison, most conventional schools teach as many as 25 students in a single classroom. In some cases, this number increases to 30, 35, and even 40—this is alarming.

Effective schooling is contingent on quality student-teacher interaction. Students must receive one-on-one attention from their teachers. This helps them enjoy a personalised schooling experience. As they receive prompt answers from their teachers and get guidance and support based on their unique performance, their interest in their class increases.

When there are 8-10 students in a single classroom, the teacher can track their individual performance: strengths, weaknesses, skills, etc. This process becomes extremely challenging when a lot of students are present in the classroom.

By reducing the student-teacher ratio, we ensure that every student has an individualised learning experience. This measure plays a big role in improving student performance and exam results.

3. Flexibility

children playing in an inflatable pool

Flexibility is easily one of the most prominent reasons behind the rapid growth and popularity of the online schooling model. Pupils who attend conventional school endure a long commute. Once they reach school, they shuffle in and out of classes all day. Students also attend protracted lessons instead of focused, well-timed lessons.

All of these factors contribute to a high level of exhaustion. Once students get home from school, they feel overwhelmed, stressed, tired, and anxious. Lack of flexibility takes a toll on student mental health.

At CHS Online, we help students secure top grades, but that’s not all. While we have a strong focus on academic growth, we also prioritise personal, social, and extracurricular development. When students attend online classes, commuting hours are cut down. Students attend focused, engaging, interactive, and stimulating lessons that begin and end on time. Moreover, students don’t roam around campus all day.

The online schooling model helps the learning process become a lot more condensed. Students gain knowledge in the time that has been set aside for their classes. Once their classes end for the day, they’re not forced to aimlessly wander on campus. Instead, students have the flexibility to play sports, socialise with their friends in a non-scholastic environment, pursue their hobbies and interests, develop new skills, and so on.

Flexibility helps students focus on their personal, social, and extracurricular life as well. This is one of the biggest reasons why online schooling has earned so much attention. Students enjoy the flexibility as it makes them feel like less of a machine and more of a human.

The learning process is just as rigorous, but it’s timed. Students aren’t forced to stay in school for longer than they have to. As a result, they enjoy a healthy schedule and thrive in different facets of their life: examinations, sports, competitions, hobbies, etc.

Recommended Read: How to Create a Sporting Timetable for Children Who Attend Homeschool

4. Physical Freedom

a young girl swimming in the Persian Gulf in Dubai

Online schooling offers ample physical freedom to students. What do we mean by this? Students aren’t confined within the walls of conventional school. Since they attend online classes via their computer or laptop, they can attend school from anywhere in the world (as long as the time zones align).

This works exceptionally well for families that travel or relocate frequently. In such cases, parents mostly make alternative living arrangements for their children. Students may live with a family member, at a hostel, and so on.

Making the switch to online schooling is a great way to ensure that the family moves together without disrupting the children’s education. Students can travel the world, explore different cultures, learn about the historical significance of different places and landmarks, explore different traditions, meet new people, and so on. Travelling teaches students the importance of inclusivity and acceptance.

At CHS Online, our students often travel during the school year. Their parents ensure that the right arrangements are made to facilitate distraction-free studying.

For instance, we strongly recommend choosing a separate room for your child’s online classes. There should be no noise, distraction, or any sort of disruption. We often require certain materials for in-class activities. Make sure you arrange these items (if needed) to ensure that your child has the same learning experience as other students.

Physical freedom goes a long way in helping students feel content and refreshed. Their studies don’t feel restrictive in any way.

5. Safety

a student attending online school from the safety of her home

As bullying increases in UK schools, parents are increasingly concerned about their children’s mental health. Conventional schools increase the risk of bullying, abuse, harassment, ostracisation, peer pressure, racial discrimination, and other types of prejudice (ethnic, religious, etc.).

If you’re a parent, your children’s safety and comfort should be your top priority. Following the pandemic, many students have continued with online schooling because of the ample safety and security they’re provided. When students attend classes from home, they don’t have to worry about being bullied.

At CHS Online, we maintain a safe, wholesome, and judgment-free online learning space. Our classes are expertly moderated by MA/MSc/PhD qualified teachers. We also teach a range of soft skills to students, including empathy, respect, responsibility, acceptance, inclusion, time management, and the like. Skills like empathy, respect, and acceptance help students understand the importance of being kind and respectful towards their peers.

Our teachers ensure that there are no instances of in-class bullying. However, if something like that ever happens, the student who perpetrated the act is removed from the classroom immediately.

We take student mental health very seriously. At a time when the world is becoming more and more polarised, the smallest difference can become a cause of conflict. We want to make sure that students understand the beauty of differences. Instead of developing hate and contempt towards another student for their differences, our students learn to appreciate, admire, and respect their uniqueness.

A healthy learning environment is the foundation for a positive learning experience. By providing this to students, we help them become content, successful learners. These skills also help students succeed in their professional life.

6. Provision of Quality Resources

Students who attend prestigious online schools receive access to quality online resources. At CHS Online, we provide students with access to our comprehensive eLibrary. Students can explore hundreds of books, previous-catch up lessons, videos, PowerPoint presentations, and more.

This added benefit has been compelling many students to continue with the online schooling model. Why? Afterschool resources supplement the homework and revision process. If students get stuck, they can consult quality resources and get back on track. The learning process never stops! We check and update our online library on a weekly basis.

a student smiling after her online class

If you’re interested in switching from conventional schooling to online schooling UK, Cambridge Home School Online should be your top selection. Established in 2002, our institution has been providing a quality Cambridge online education to students for over 20 years.

We offer four competitive homeschooling programs: Primary Prep/Key Stage 2 (ages 7 to 10), Lower School/Key Stage 3 (ages 11 to 13), Upper School/IGCSEs (ages 14 to 16), and Sixth Form/AS & A-Levels (ages 17 to 19).

Explore the following pages for more information about our programs, policies, philosophy, and fee structure:

The education landscape is changing as more and more students are making the switch to online learning. Parents are supporting this decision owing to the quality of education provided at the top online schools today. Students can secure top grades, enjoy a healthy school-life balance, explore their extracurricular interests, reduce the risk of school bullying, and develop a wide range of hard and soft skills.

Thank you for trusting Cambridge Home School Online. We look forward to reviewing your application. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact our team. We’re always happy to help! You can also open our live chat box to receive prompt support from our experts. We typically reply in under 5 minutes.

FAQ

Why has online schooling gained popularity, especially in the UK, after the COVID-19 lockdown?

Online schooling has gained significant momentum after the COVID-19 lockdown due to several factors. Firstly, internet access in the UK has reached an all-time high, making it easier for students to attend classes from home. Moreover, quality online schools like Cambridge Home School Online offer high-quality education, helping to alleviate parents’ concerns about the academic standards of online schooling.

What measures are taken to ensure the quality of education in online schooling?

Quality online schools focus on providing an excellent educational experience. For instance, Cambridge Home School Online employs teachers with advanced degrees (MA/MSc/PhD) and uses the renowned Cambridge homeschool curriculum. Additionally, the student-to-teacher ratio is kept low, typically 8-10 students per class, to allow for individualised attention.

How does online schooling offer greater flexibility than traditional schooling?

Online schooling models allow for a more condensed and focused learning experience. Students don’t have to commute to school, saving them time and reducing exhaustion. This setup allows students the freedom to engage in extracurricular activities, socialise, and focus on personal development.

Can online schooling be as effective for families who travel frequently?

Yes, online schooling is particularly beneficial for families who travel or relocate often. Students can attend classes from anywhere in the world as long as they have a stable internet connection and can align with the time zone. This allows families to move together without disrupting the children’s education.

How does online schooling address the issue of student safety?

Online schooling provides a safe learning environment, reducing the risks associated with bullying, discrimination, and harassment commonly found in traditional schools. Platforms like CHS Online focus on creating a judgment-free space and teach soft skills like empathy and respect to foster a healthy learning environment.