Online Schooling in Saudi Arabia
As online schooling gains momentum in Saudi Arabia, many parents are considering switching to a schooling system that’s more flexible, safe, and beneficial for their children. The switch from conventional (in-person) schooling to online schooling first started in cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, Dammam, Tabuk, Taif, and Al Khobar. Today, it has normalised in several other cities of Saudi Arabia, including Buraydah, Najran, Abha, Tanbu, Jazan, Al Qatif, Dhahran, Al Hofuf, and Al Jubail, among several others.
As a parent who is considering making this switch, understanding the causes of this transition is imperative. Compared to conventional schooling, online schooling offers both students and parents ample flexibility. Students are provided quality education from the safety and security of their homes. Moreover, parents can enjoy greater flexibility, especially if they’re working from home. Online schooling doesn’t require parents to intervene during the classes.
At Cambridge Home School, our Masters/Ph.D. qualified subject specialist teachers structure interactive, engaging, stimulating, and enriching classes to keep students engrossed in the lessons through and through. Parents don’t have to worry about interrupting their workflow to check in on their children. Once the classes finish per schedule, you can follow up with your children and spend some family time or plan their next activity.
Online schooling also offers enhanced safety. As a parent, you don’t have to worry about your child potentially interacting with unvaccinated children and contracting the virus. You can also eliminate the risk of school bullying and/or harassment, which is common in conventional schools.
As you make the switch to online schooling for your child, make sure you do your research and select the best international online school in Saudi Arabia. Cambridge Home School should be your top consideration. In this blog, we’ll offer a closer look at why we’re the right fit for your child.
Cambridge Home School Online is a selective school which means only the most motivated students with good grades are accepted. Like all of the world’s elite schools Cambridge Home School Online is always over-subscribed and there is a lot of competiton for school places. Parents are advised to apply in advance of an anticipated start date or to join the waiting list.
Why Should I Select Cambridge Home School?
1. Focus on Academic Growth
Established in 2002, we have over 19 years of experience in providing quality education across four schools: Primary Prep/Key Stage 2 (ages 8 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).
At Cambridge Home School, we have a strong focus on academic growth. Older students living in Saudi Arabia often feel that their peers living in the UK have access to better educational tools, resources, teachers, expertise, study guides, and teaching support. In some cases, younger students also harbour similar feelings. In fact, this isn’t just true for students in the Middle East; it’s common among all international students who acquire a British education.
At Cambridge Home School, we provide the same quality of education to all of our students. Whether they live in Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, China, Russia, South Africa, Qatar, Kuwait, Hong Kong, the UK, or any other part of the world, our students are:
- Taught by a team of experienced MA/Ph.D. qualified subject specialist teachers
- Provided access to a vast online library of educational resources (videos, books, study guides, presentations, audios, past papers, etc.)
- Provided one-on-one success coaching and pastoral support
- Encouraged to play competitive sports (football, cricket, basketball, rugby, ice hockey, tennis, etc.) for a healthier school-life balance
By checking these boxes off the list, we help students living in Saudia Arabia secure top grades and achieve impressive levels of academic success as they progress from one schooling stage to another.
Our MA/Ph.D. qualified subject specialist teachers use an individualised approach to ensure that each student receives the one-on-one attention they need for optimal knowledge absorption and retention. We keep the classroom size as small as possible (8 to 10 pupils per group) to maximise engagement, interactivity, and attentivity. This is one of the most notable features of online schooling.
In conventional schools, the student-teacher ratio is extremely high. In some cases, up to 25 students are taught by one teacher. Consequently, the teacher struggles to keep each student on track. Young students are prone to getting distracted, losing the gist of the lesson, and zoning out. If their teacher doesn’t gently reel them back in by providing individualised care, students tend to underperform in the long run.
At Cambridge Home School, we maintain a low student-teacher ratio to help each child stay on track through and through. Our teachers ask them relevant questions based on their learning patterns and paces, promptly resolve their questions, provide enhanced support if they’re struggling, and keep them focused.
Since one teacher manages a maximum of 10 students, they can get a good grasp on each student’s strengths, weaknesses, learning preferences, and quirks. As they develop nuanced insights, our teachers adopt the right strategies to help students excel.
At Cambridge Home School, we also use a well-rounded, independent curriculum to promote holistic learning. Our interdisciplinary approach helps students secure top grades and become accomplished professionals in the future. By teaching a wide range of soft and hard skills across numerous subjects, topics, and subtopics, we help our students develop an academic edge.
2. School-Life Balance
We understand that many Saudi students struggle to strike a healthy school-life balance. If they attend conventional school, achieving and maintaining this balance can become even more challenging. We’re committed to helping Saudi students excel outside of school by balancing their academic and non-academic life.
In addition to doubling down on academic performance, we also take each student’s personal growth and social development into account. We want students to have diverse experiences. Our classes are carefully structured and timed in a way that students learn exceptionally well but also get a chance to explore their interests, socialise with their friends, participate in skill-building activities, play their favourite sports, go on trips with their family, make time for their hobbies, and learn something new every day.
By focusing on both academics and non-academics, we help students learn, grow, and evolve in numerous aspects. Our students grow up to become well-rounded individuals with strong personalities, critical thinking skills, an impressive set of qualifications, and a passion for excelling in any task they undertake. This focus has helped us develop an excellent track record over the years, which we’ll elaborate on in the next section. Our institution is trusted by thousands of parents across Saudi Arabia.
3. Track Record
In June 2021, 86% of our IGCSE students secured A*s and As in their target subjects. 83% of our A-Levels students secured two As and a B or higher as required by top universities. Moreover, all students who applied received offers from top universities. We attribute our track record to the hard work of our students, the persistence and dedication of our teachers, and the trust of our student’s parents.
Since our inception in 2002, we’ve been committed to consistently making improvements on a bi-yearly basis. We’ve made significant improvements from continually tweaking the curriculum to introducing new technologies to our online teaching system to doubling down on building soft skills in students.
While our students perform exceptionally well on their exams, they also enjoy success in non-academic pursuits. Our students are recognised for playing competitive sports in Saudi Arabia. Our focus on flexible scheduling makes this extremely easy for students across the board. Since our student-teacher ratio is low, students aren’t required to spend unnecessarily long hours attending classes.
Our classes are more focused and streamlined. In other words, students can learn, engage, and retain more in half the time. In conventional schools, a lot of time is wasted shuffling in and out of classes, sitting through unfocused lectures, and getting distracted. By eliminating these factors, we help our students perform exceptionally well and enjoy good mental health.
How Can I Get Started?
While many parents are hesitant about homeschooling their children, they become more receptive to the transition after hearing about its benefits. As your child attends an esteemed online private school in Saudi Arabia, they’ll get a chance to learn from some of the best British teachers across the UK.
By creating an interactive, wholesome, and engaging online learning environment, we ensure that every student is equipped to sit their exams with clear concepts, confidence, strong time management skills, and a focus on excelling. If you’re considering making the switch to one of the best online schools in Saudi Arabia, we recommend utilising the following resources to make an informed decision:
- Admissions Process
- Term Dates
- Application Form
- Scholarships & Bursaries
- Grades & Fees
- Online Reviews
We also recommend speaking about the transition with your child beforehand. This is an extremely important decision that shouldn’t be made without consulting your child. No matter how young they may be, inform them about the transition and walk them through the benefits of online learning.
If you’re making the transition to online school for an older student, make sure you consider their opinion. If they have any reservations about the transition, share the insights we’ve provided in our blog with them. As you take a deeper dive into the plus points of online schooling, your child will feel more comfortable and enthusiastic about getting started.
For older students, parents are encouraged to focus on the greater flexibility granted to them. Students can utilise this flexibility to maintain a healthy school-life balance. In addition, highlight the qualifications of our faculty, our track record, and our focus on student mental health.
We’re excited to have you on board! If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. We’re always happy to help.