2026/27
The IWS prospectus
A registered online Cambridge International School
IWS prospectus 2026/27
Welcome
Welcome to IWS Online School
Education is one of the most significant investments a family makes. At IWS, we believe that a school’s primary role is to provide a stable, clear environment where students can find their confidence and reach their potential.
Our approach is straightforward: we combine the academic rigour of the Cambridge curriculum with the flexibility of modern online learning. We do not just deliver lessons; we provide a structure that supports growth. Our teachers act as dedicated mentors, ensuring that while students learn to be independent, they are never left without guidance.
Whether your child is beginning their education in Primary or preparing for university in the Sixth Form, our commitment remains the same: to deliver high-quality British education with clarity, consistency and care.
Whatever your child’s age, our commitment remains the same: to deliver high-quality British education with clarity, consistency and care.
Cigdem KaramanCEO & Founder
Contents
What’s inside
- 01WelcomeWelcomepage 2
- 02How we teachHow we teachpage 6
- 03Which way of learning fits?Which way fits?page 7
- 04What each way includesWhat each includespage 9
- 05Is it allowed where we live?Allowed where we live?page 12
- 06Which year, which subjects?Year and subjectspage 14
- 07What’s a school day like?A school daypage 21
- 08Who teaches and looks after them?Teachers and carepage 26
- 09Exams and universityExams and universitypage 29
- 10Is it right for my child?Right for my child?page 32
- 11Will they make friends?Friendspage 34
- 12When can we start, and how?Startingpage 37
- 13What does it cost?What it costspage 39
Look for the play button: families and students tell their own story in short films all through the book.
Welcome
Our students live all over the world
IWS is a British school that meets online. Our students join their lessons from home, wherever their family lives.
One timetable, every time zone. Lessons run on UK time, and every one is recorded, so a lesson that falls at night can be watched in the morning.
In their words
Taylah R.Watch her filmHe is always eager to attend his online lessons, and he speaks very highly of his teachers.
Welcome
How we teach
Children do their best work when they know what’s expected and the help doesn’t change from week to week. Everything we do rests on three ideas.Everything we do rests on three ideas.
- ClarityLessons, messages and expectations kept simple, so your child always knows what comes next.Simple lessons and messages, so your child knows what comes next.
- StructureCalm, steady routines that keep lessons, homework and deadlines in order.Steady routines for lessons, homework and deadlines.
- GrowthSteady progress that builds your child’s confidence, one step at a time.Progress that builds confidence, one step at a time.
Every lesson keeps the same rhythm: the teacher explains, your child practises with help, and the class recaps what they’ve learnt.
Discover, Create, Lead. It’s our motto, and the way through the school: year by year, students take on more of their own learning, ready for university and beyond. Year by year, students take on more of their own learning.
Lessons, recordings and work all live in one place on the learning platform.
Three ways to learn
Same curriculum, three ways to learn
Every family has a different rhythm. The teaching stays the same; you choose how much of it is live.
AcademyThe complete IWS school. 12 to 15 live lessons a week, depending on year group.The complete IWS school. 12 to 15 live lessons a week.
BridgeAlongside another school or pathway. One live lesson in each subject every week.Alongside another school. One live lesson a subject each week.
FoundationRecorded lessons, at your child’s own time and pace.Recorded lessons, at your child’s own pace.
Which one fits your child?Turn the page
Three ways to learn
Which one fits your child?
| Academy | Bridge | Foundation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teaching | A full weekly timetable of live lessons, with teachers and classmates in real time. | One live lesson in each subject every week, to consolidate the learning. | No live lessons. Learning runs on our library of recorded lessons. |
| Marking | Teacher-marked work and personal feedback, mock exams included. | Auto-graded quizzes and unit assessments. | Auto-graded checks that open the next part of the course. |
| Support | A Mentor, one of their own teachers, and the Well-Rounded Programme. | A Mentor who keeps them on course. | A Mentor who helps them stay organised. |
On every model: Houses, clubs, the whole platform, and no extra books to buy. Students sit Cambridge exams at a local exam centre; the family registers, and we guide you through it.
- Academy A full timetable of live lessons, teacher-marked work, a Mentor and the Well-Rounded Programme.
- Bridge One live lesson a subject each week, auto-graded work and a Mentor who keeps them on course.
- Foundation Recorded lessons, auto-graded checks and a Mentor who helps them stay organised.
Three ways to learn
What each way includes
The curriculum is the same in all three. What changes is how much is taught live, and how work is marked. Lessons are counted in each subject, each week.The same curriculum in all three. Lessons are counted in each subject, each week.
| Academy | Bridge | Foundation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary to IGCSE | 3 live lessons in each subject a week3 live | 1 live and 2 recorded lessons in each subject a week1 live, 2 recorded | 3 recorded lessons in each subject a week3 recorded |
| A Level | 4 live lessons in each subject a week4 live | 1 live and 3 recorded lessons in each subject a week1 live, 3 recorded | 4 recorded lessons in each subject a week4 recorded |
| University Foundation | 15 live lessons a week15 live a week | 5 live lessons a week5 live a week | Recorded lessonsRecorded |
| Marking | Teacher-marked work and personal feedbackTeacher-marked work and personal feedback | Auto-graded work and automated feedbackAuto-graded work and automated feedback | Auto-graded work, with feedback on what’s handed inAuto-graded work, with feedback on what’s handed in |
| Reports | Reports and a certificateReports and a certificate | Academic reportsAcademic reports | An end-of-year reportAn end-of-year report |
- Academy3 live lessons a subject each week (4 at A Level). Teacher-marked work, reports and a certificate.
- Bridge1 live and 2 recorded a subject each week (1 and 3 at A Level). Auto-graded work and academic reports.
- Foundation3 recorded lessons a subject each week (4 at A Level). Auto-graded work and an end-of-year report.
Whichever way they learn, every student joins a House and can take part in clubs and forums.Every student joins a House and can take part in clubs and forums.
Three ways to learn
Alongside their own school
Bridge is for a child who stays at their own school, or follows another path, and wants a Cambridge education with us too.
Bridge is for a child who stays at their own school and wants a Cambridge education with us too.
MonMTueTWedWThuTFriF
Mathsliverecordings and workrecordings and workrecordings and workrecordings and work
Englishrecordings and workliverecordings and workrecordings and workrecordings and work
Sciencerecordings and workrecordings and workliverecordings and workrecordings and work
Subject 4recordings and workrecordings and workrecordings and workliverecordings and work
Subject 5recordings and workrecordings and workrecordings and workrecordings and worklive
one live lesson a subject, each weeklive, once a weekrecordings and work, when it suitsrecordings
- They stay at their own school.They stay at their own school.
- A Mentor keeps them on course alongside everything else.A Mentor keeps them on course.
Learning around a life
School around a full life
Kei Y.Watch her filmIGCSE, balletIWS has really helped me grow academically while allowing me to pursue my passion for ballet.IWS has really helped me grow academically while allowing me to pursue my passion for ballet.
Adrian E.Watch his filmStudent athleteHaving the flexibility to balance my academic responsibilities with my training and competitions was incredibly valuable.The flexibility to balance my academic responsibilities with my training and competitions was incredibly valuable.
Three ways to learn
Is it allowed where we live?
It depends on the country. It’s one of the first things we talk through with a family.
Where every child must attend a local schoolIt depends on the country
Some countries expect every child to be enrolled at a school there, and a few don’t allow home education at all. Families there choose Bridge: their child stays at their own school and studies with us alongside it.Some countries expect every child to attend a local school. Families there choose Bridge, alongside it.
Tell us where you liveTell us where you live
On the call we’ll ask where your family lives and what you have in mind, and we’ll talk it through with you before you decide anything.We’ll talk it through on the call, before you decide anything.
Lessons from home, wherever home is this year.
Programmes
Which year will my child join?
Each stage builds on the one before. We place your child by age, and the Learner Profile shows their level, whatever system they’ve come from.By age, with the Learner Profile showing their level.
Programmes
Ages 5 to 11
Primary School
A calm start to school, with a daily routine that mixes time on screen with time away from it.A calm start, with time on screen and time away from it every day.
- Maths
- English
- Science
- Computing
- Global Perspectives
- Assessment
- Progress checks through the year, and no external exams.
- Next
- A confident move up to Secondary.
He gets to go play cricket in between lessons, and then he comes and he sits and he’s able to learn again.He gets to go play cricket in between lessons, and then he’s able to learn again.
Programmes
Ages 11 to 14
Secondary School
Students take more charge of their own learning, and a steady week builds the study habits they’ll need for IGCSE.Students take more charge, and build the habits they’ll need for IGCSE.
- Maths
- English
- Science
- Computing
- Global Perspectives
- Assessment
- Internal assessments in the style of IGCSE.
- Next
- Ready for the demands of IGCSE.
The teachers give one-on-one attention to the students, instead of just delivering a lecture.The teachers give one-on-one attention, instead of just delivering a lecture.
Programmes
Ages 14 to 16
Cambridge IGCSE
Two years of serious subject work, with regular checks so students are ready well before their Cambridge exams.
Core
- Mathematics
- English Language
- English Literature
Science
- Combined Science
- or Biology, Chemistry, Physics
- Combined, or the three sciences
Choose from
- Computer Science
- Business Studies
- Economics
- Spanish
- History
- Psychology
- Computer Science
- Business
- Economics
- Spanish
- History
- Psychology
- Exams
- Cambridge IGCSE, sat at a local exam centre.Cambridge IGCSE, at a local exam centre.
Programmes
Ages 16 to 18
A Level
Students go deep into a few subjects with specialist teachers, and learn to work the way they will at university.
- Mathematics
- English Language
- English Literature
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Business
- Economics
- History
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Computer Science
- Maths
- English Language
- English Literature
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Business
- Economics
- History
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Computer Science
- Exams
- Cambridge International AS and A Level, and Pearson Edexcel for the A Level sciences, sat at a local exam centre.Cambridge AS and A Level; Pearson Edexcel for the sciences.
- How many
- Most universities ask for three A Levels.
I have learned to become more independent with my work.I have learned to become more independent with my work.
Programmes
Ages 16+
University FoundationUniversity Foundation
A one-year route to university for students who do better with coursework than with high-stakes exams. The qualification is awarded through OCN London.One year to university, all coursework, awarded through OCN London.
- Course
- Business and ManagementBusiness and Management
- Assessment
- All coursework, with no final exams.
95%of students go on to one of 165+ university pathwaysgo on to one of 165+ university pathways
Programmes
Only some subjects?
Yes. Your child can take the full package, or study subjects on their own.Yes. The full package, or subjects on their own.
- The full packageEvery subject for their year, with the live lessons, marking and support of their learning model.
- Single subjectsOne subject or a few, alongside whatever else your child is studying. The Fees page shows the price of a single subject.One subject or a few. The Fees page shows the price of one.
- At A LevelMost universities ask for three A Levels.
At A Level: most universities ask for three A Levels, so it’s worth checking what your child’s next step will need.
See the feesA day at IWS
A day on UK time
When live lessons started in one real week, in UK time.When live lessons started in one real week.
| Hour (UK time) | Live lessons starting |
|---|---|
| 8am | 16 |
| 9am | 38 |
| 10am | 38 |
| 11am | 36 |
| 12 noon | 36 |
| 1pm | 37 |
| 2pm | 19 |
| 3pm | 7 |
| 4pm | 11 |
| 5pm | 2 |
- 40 minutes each
- Monday to Friday
- every lesson recorded
- 40 minutes
- Mon to Fri
- all recorded
A day at IWS
Inside a live lesson
Classes have at most 15 students, and Primary classes are often smaller, so every child is known by name.At most 15 students, so every child is known by name.
At most 15 in a class, and one of them is your child.
The classes are actually really interactive, unlike what most people would think when going to an online school.The classes are actually really interactive.
A day at IWS
Stuck? Missed one?
- Missed a lessonEvery live lesson is recorded and on the learning platform the same day, to catch up on or go back over.Every lesson is recorded and online the same day.
- Stuck on somethingIn Academy, one-to-one help, as much as your child needs, at no extra cost.In Academy, one-to-one help, as much as needed.
- Fallen behindIn Academy, extra support for as long as it’s needed. In Bridge and Foundation, their Mentor picks it up with them.Extra support in Academy; a Mentor in Bridge and Foundation.
A day at IWS
We don’t have to fight about getting schoolwork done anymore.
Homework: set each Monday and handed in each Friday. It pauses in the last three weeks of each term.
A day at IWS
What you need at home
- A laptop or desktop with an up-to-date browser and 4GB of memoryA laptop, up-to-date browser, 4GB memory
- A steady connection of 5 Mbps or more5 Mbps, steady
- A wired headset with a microphoneA wired headset with a mic
- A webcam: most laptops have oneA webcam
Our teachers
Who teaches your child
Qualified teachers, each a specialist in their subject, who know your child by name.
- Celeste CoetzeeSciencesSciences
Dennis LukoziScience and PhysicsPhysics
Edward EayrsEnglishEnglish
Elsie EayrsHistory, and Academic LeadHistory- Juan-Pierre van RensburgMathsMaths
- Leandro PerezSpanishSpanish
- Lourens TredouxComputingComputing
Michelle van RoonPsychology and SociologyPsychology- Quraysha KhanBusiness and EconomicsBusiness
Ruth AkintolaPrimaryPrimary
Our teachers
Progress you can see
- In Academy, teachers mark the work and give feedback. In Bridge and Foundation, quizzes and assignments mark themselves.
- Progress shows on the learning platform, and marks are in by the last week of each term.
- Each term has parent meeting weeks, booked straight with your child’s teacher.
Marks and progress on the platform, and parent meeting weeks every term.
What I love about the school is that they are in constant communication.They are in constant communication.
Our teachers
A Mentor for every student
Every IWS student receives mentoring that fits their learning model. A Mentor keeps the wider view of each student: their goals, progress and habits, what’s getting in the way and what should happen next.Someone who keeps the wider view: goals, progress, habits, and what should happen next.
In Academy, your child’s Mentor is one of their own teachers.
Thanks to the mentoring support from IWS, I passed my A Levels with flying colours.
Exams and university
Exams: where and how
Cambridge exams are sat in person, at an approved exam centre near you.
- Your child studies the Cambridge course with us.Your child studies the Cambridge course with us.
- You register them with an exam centre near you.You register them with a centre near you.
- You pay the exam fees to that centre, not to IWS.You pay exam fees to the centre, not to IWS.
- They sit their exams in person at the centre.They sit the exams in person there.
We guide you through every step, from finding a centre to the exam day.We guide you through every step.
Exams and university
2,670+universities in 99 countries recognise Cambridge qualifications.
Cambridge International’s own figure. IWS Online School is a registered online Cambridge International School.Cambridge International’s own figure.
Exams and university
Where they went next
Aydın T.City St George’s, University of LondonAydın T.Now at City St George’s, University of London
Emre K.Maths and data scienceEmre K.Studying maths and data science
Alexandru R.Reading lawAlexandru R.Reading law
Is it right for us?
Is my child’s English good enough?
- Every lesson is in EnglishEvery subject is taught in English, at every stage.At every stage.
- No pass-or-fail testA short, friendly Learner Profile helps us understand your child and place them correctly.A friendly Learner Profile places your child.
- The trial lesson shows itIn a trial lesson, the teacher sees how your child copes with lessons in English.
- We’ll be straight with youIf IWS isn’t the right fit for your child’s plans, we’ll tell you.The trial lesson shows how they cope, and we’ll tell you if it isn’t the right fit.
Is it right for us?
When school hasn’t worked
Some families come to us after a school that didn’t suit their child.
- At most 15 in a class, so no child disappears at the back.At most 15 in a class.
- Every lesson is recorded, so a hard day isn’t a lost lesson.Every lesson recorded, so a hard day isn’t a lost lesson.
- Learning from a quiet place at home, with breaks between lessons.A quiet place at home, with breaks between lessons.
- A Mentor who keeps the whole child in view, and in Academy, extra support for as long as it’s needed.A Mentor who keeps the whole child in view.
Tell us about your child on the call. If we’re not the right fit, we’ll say so.
Friends and community
Friends, Houses and clubs
Every student joins one of four Houses after taking the House Quiz. The Houses are the four points of the compass in the IWS badge.
Seven clubs, six of them led by students, meet online at 3pm UK time, Tuesday to Friday:
- The Design Lab
- Debate Club
- Soccer Club
- The Quills
- STEM Club
- Behind the Lens
- Baking Club
NorthIntegrity & VisionEastInnovation & DiscoverySouthEmpathy & CommunityWestResilience & ActionFour Houses, and seven clubs at 3pm UK time, six led by students.
I’ve started the Debate Club, and I really like it because it’s interactive, it builds confidence.I’ve started the Debate Club.
Who looks after them
Safe and looked after
Everyone at IWS is responsible for keeping children safe. Our safeguarding policy covers staff checks and safer recruitment, how live lessons and one-to-one sessions are run, and online safety.
Michelle van Roon leads safeguarding and pastoral care, with leads safeguarding, with Elsie Eayrs as her deputy. as deputy.
Read the safeguarding policyWhen can we start?
When can my child start?
At the start of a term, or partway through one. The 2026/27 year has three terms and 34 teaching weeks.At the start of a term, or partway through one.
- Term 1: 14 Sep to 18 Dec
14 weeksSep to Dec - Term 2: 4 Jan to 26 Mar
12 weeksJan to Mar - Term 3: 5 Apr to 28 May
8 weeksApr to May
Three terms, 34 teaching weeks, 14 Sep 2026 to 28 May 2027.
Families join at any point in the year.Families join at any point.
When can we start?
Try it, then join
- Talk to us. Book a consultation and tell us about your child. No obligation.Talk to us, with no obligation.
- A trial lesson: 30 minutes with a qualified teacher, and a look inside the platform, at no charge.A free 30-minute trial lesson.
- The Learner Profile: a short assessment of your child’s level. Not a pass-or-fail exam.The Learner Profile, not a test.
- Your offer, then enrolment. Your child gets their login, the learning platform and a welcome from our team.Your offer, then enrolment.
Our admissions team replies within one working day.
What does it cost?
What it costs
Your fee depends on three things:Your fee depends on:
The programmeProgramme×The learning modelModel×How many subjectsSubjects
- The Fees page shows where each model starts and the ways you can pay, and we’ll give you the exact fee for your child when you talk to us.
- There are no textbooks to buy: everything is on the learning platform.No textbooks to buy.
- Exam entry fees are paid to the exam centre, not to IWS.Exam fees go to the exam centre.
Questions
Other questions families askOther questions
- Is IWS a British school?Is IWS a British school?
- Yes. IWS is a British online school and a registered online Cambridge International School. The curriculum is British, and lessons are taught live by qualified teachers.Yes, and a registered online Cambridge International School.
- Will my child have gaps when they join?Gaps when they join?
- We start by finding out where your child is. The Learner Profile shows their level and needs before they begin.The Learner Profile finds them first.
- Can my child study at their own pace?At their own pace?
- Yes, in Foundation: recorded lessons at their own time and pace, with a Mentor who helps them stay organised.Yes, in Foundation.
- Is there an entrance exam?
- There’s no pass-or-fail entrance exam. A short, friendly Learner Profile places your child.
A parent’s view
I am an educator myself, I am a professor at the university, and I would recommend this school strongly.
Let’s talk
Let’s talk about your child
Whether you’re ready to apply or would just like to know more, our admissions team is here from your first question to your child’s first lesson.
- [email protected]
- +44 7404 981112
- Address
- 167-169 Great Portland Street, 5th Floor, London, W1W 5PF
- Website
- www.iwsonlineschool.co.uk
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