The UK’s Harrow School has announced it will launch a “virtual sixth form” to teach A-levels online from September 2020.
The Harrow School Online will charge £15,000-a-year, and students will receive one-on-one academic tutorials, live online lessons, and regular coaching sessions for support.
“We live in a rapidly changing world, and education must too adapt”
The school expects to see demand from markets including China, Russia, Nigeria, UAE and Hong Kong, where the brick and mortar school currently sees significant interest.
It will initially focus on STEM subjects and economics.
“We live in a rapidly changing world, and education must too adapt to the new challenges this presents, and reflect young people’s lifestyles and aspirations,” Harrow School Online’s principal Heather Rhodes said.
The online school will also aim to mirror the ethos of Harrow School in England via a virtual house system, and students will be able to participate in extracurricular activities, such as a chess club and a student newspaper, and to attend a summer course at Harrow School.
Digital education specialist Pearson will provide the technology for the new school through a platform that is already used by more than 75,000 virtual students around the world.
“Pearson is investing in digital innovation and our collaboration with Harrow School builds on our existing leadership in online schooling in the US and worldwide,” said Sharon Hague head of Pearson Schools in the UK noted.
“Through this innovation we are helping export high quality, British curriculum internationally, using technology to increase access to quality education for international learners.”
