Online school in the UK
An online school for families in the UK.
IWS is an international school, delivered online, for students aged 5 to 19. Families choose between three learning models, from live lessons with qualified teachers to recorded teaching at the student’s own pace.
- Ages 5 to 19
- Live lessons with qualified teachers
- Join at any point in the year
What your child finds at IWS.
Here are four parts of an IWS education. Each has a page of its own.
Live lessons with qualified teachers
Teachers teach in real time, in small live classes, so they can see when something isn’t landing and say so. Bridge has selected live lessons, and Foundation uses recorded teaching.
The Cambridge curriculum
Secondary School and IGCSE follow the Cambridge International Curriculum, and A Level students take Cambridge International A Levels. Primary School follows the National Curriculum for England. More than 2,670 universities recognise Cambridge qualifications.
Houses and clubs
Every student is placed in one of four Houses after taking the House Quiz. Clubs run online, led by students, and any IWS student can join.
A Mentor
Every IWS student receives mentoring that fits their learning model. A Mentor keeps the wider view of a student: goals, progress, habits and what to do next.
How a week works.
A week mixes live teaching, recordings and time to work alone. How much of each depends on the learning model.
- Live lessonsQualified teachers teach in real time, with classmates in the room. Academy has 12 to 15 a week, depending on year group, and Bridge has one in each subject.
- RecordingsRecordings sit alongside the live lessons, so a student can go back over what was taught.
- Independent studyTasks to work through alone, at the student’s own pace.
- Houses, clubs and eventsStudents belong to a House, join clubs and make friends across countries.
Three ways to take part.
Families choose by fit: how much live teaching a week needs, and how much room it leaves for everything else.
The complete IWS school experience
Academy
Every lesson is live.
How the lessons are given
- Live
Best for students who learn best with a teacher and classmates in the room.
Bridge
One live lesson in each subject, the rest recorded.
How the lessons are given
- Live
- Recorded
Best for families who flexi-school. It fits alongside your child’s school timetable.
Foundation
Every lesson is recorded.
How the lessons are given
- Recorded
Best for disciplined independent learners, and home-educating families who want structure.
- Bridge and your child’s school
- Whether your child can attend their school part-time is decided by the headteacher of the school they’re on roll at, and IWS has no say in it.
What your child studies, stage by stage.
A stage is what a student studies, and it’s a separate choice from the learning model. Every stage is open in all three models.
| Stage | Key Stage and ages | Curriculum |
|---|---|---|
| Primary School | Key Stages 1 and 2, ages 5 to 11 | The National Curriculum for England |
| Secondary School | Key Stage 3, ages 11 to 14 | The Cambridge International Curriculum |
| IGCSE | Key Stage 4, ages 14 to 16 | The Cambridge International Curriculum, including Cambridge IGCSE pathways |
| A Level | Key Stage 5, ages 16 to 18 | Cambridge International A Levels and, for A Level sciences, Pearson Edexcel qualifications |
| University Foundation Programme | Post-16, ages 16 and over | An OCN London University Foundation Programme |
Read more about each programme: Primary School, Secondary School, IGCSE, A Level and University Foundation.
Looking for GCSE? IWS teaches Cambridge IGCSE at Key Stage 4, and the Online GCSE page explains how the two compare.
IWS does not run examinations. Students sit their exams at an approved exam centre, and we guide your family through registering.
Recognition and affiliations
Each of the four is a different kind of relationship, and the label above each name says which.
IWS Online School is a registered online Cambridge International School.Registered with
Cambridge International Education
IWS Online School is a registered online Cambridge International School. Students sit Cambridge IGCSE and A Level examinations, qualifications recognised by more than 2,670 universities in 99 countries, including every UK university.
Qualifications awarded through
OCN London
Selected qualifications, including the University Foundation Programme, are awarded through OCN London, an awarding organisation regulated by Ofqual.
Listed on
UK Register of Learning Providers
IWS is listed on the UK Register of Learning Providers, where each provider is identified by its own UKPRN.
Associated with
Council of British International Schools
IWS is associated with the Council of British International Schools, a membership body for British international schools.
In a parent’s own words.
This review was left independently on Trustpilot, and it’s printed here word for word.
This was our first year at IWS, and it has been a wonderful experience. My daughter really enjoyed the teachers and the lessons, and I can see how much she has improved. The school has been very supportive.
What happens after you enquire.
A person reads your enquiry
We reply within one working day
With answers, fees for your child’s stage, and honest advice.
You choose the pace
A call or an email, whichever suits you. You’re not deciding anything today.
You try a lesson before you decide
A 30-minute trial lesson with a qualified teacher, and a look inside the learning platform, at no charge.
The four steps of admissions are on the How to Apply page.
Questions parents ask.
Can my child start part-way through the year?
IWS accepts students during the year as well as at the start of it. The 2026/27 academic year began on 14 September 2026. We assess where your child is, agree a starting point and plan the transition.
Is there an entrance exam?
There’s no pass-or-fail entrance exam. We use a short, friendly Learner Profile to understand your child and place them correctly.
My child is at school part of the week. Is Bridge right for us?
Bridge is for families who flexi-school. It has one live lesson in each subject every week, so up to 5 a week, and it fits alongside your child’s school timetable. Whether your child can attend their school part-time is decided by the headteacher of the school they’re on roll at, not by us.
What does it cost?
Fees depend on the programme and the learning model, and the Fees page shows where each model starts. We give you the figures for your child’s stage, and you’re not asked to decide on the call.
Will UK universities accept Cambridge qualifications?
Cambridge qualifications are recognised by 2,670+ universities. UK universities set entry on A Level, with English and maths as a background requirement, and each one sets its own requirements, so check the course your child is aiming for. We guide students through UCAS, personal statements, references and university choices.
Who is responsible for safeguarding?
Michelle van Roon is IWS’s Pastoral Care Lead and Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). The safeguarding policy is published on this site.
Tell us about your child.
Book a consultation and our admissions team will reply within one working day, with answers, fees for your child’s stage and honest advice. Before you decide, your child can try a 30-minute lesson with a qualified teacher, at no charge.