A Mentor from the first week
One of your child’s own subject teachers, who becomes their person at the school and your point of contact. Every Academy student has one from the week they join.
Moving to IWS
What actually changes when a child movesschool online?
Less than you fear, and sooner than you expect. Joining mid-year is normal here, and in week one your child has a Mentor, who becomes their person at the school and your point of contact.
Book a Consultation
Autumn term begins 14 September 2026. The consultation carries no fee, and there is nothing to decide on the day.
Accredited
The qualifications your child sits here are Cambridge qualifications, recognised by more than 1,400 universities.
What is settled before the first Monday
A house and a form group
Placed in both, registering with the same faces every morning. It may still take a term to feel settled. That is normal and we will tell you how it is going.
A timetable that already exists
Placement, subjects and teachers are settled before the first lesson, so the first day is a school day rather than an admin day.
We look at where your child actually is
Not automatically the start of a year group. We work out the most sensible point to join, which sometimes means a different year than the last school used.
Mid-year joining is normal
In many cases yes, and it is not treated as an exception. Term begins 14 September, and that is the easier week to arrive, but it is not the only one.
What the first two weeks actually look like
- BeforePlacement, timetable, Mentor and house settled
- Day 1Registration with their form group, with the same faces
- Week 1First one to one with their Mentor
- Week 2Clubs, once they know what is running
- OngoingYou hear how they are settling, without having to ask
Illustrative. Joining points vary by programme and year group.
Beyond the classroom
Athletes, Founders & Leaders
There isn’t a typical IWS student. Some train seriously for sport. Some perform. Some are already building something of their own. They live in different countries and meet in the same classrooms.
Georgiy G.IGCSE student, tennis athlete
Peter G.Show jumping, CSI level
Maksim B.A Level student, kendo athlete & IWS Head Boy
Milos L.Entrepreneur
Adrian R.Student athlete
Kei Y.IGCSE student, ballet athlete
Aydın T.Graduate, now in City University of London
Alexandru R.2025/26 Graduate, applied to top UK & Europe universities for Law
Emre K.Graduate, now studying Mathematics and Data Science
Serenity M.Debate Club leader
Thato R.A Level student, learning independently
Xenia A.A Level student, Science Club leaderBook a Consultation
Term begins 14 September 2026. The consultation carries no fee.
The record
- 1,400+
- Universities recognising Cambridge qualifications
- 4.2 / 5
- Trustpilot, reviewed by IWS families
- 95%
- Progression to 165+ pathways, University Foundation
- 1:1
- Unlimited one to one support on Academy
In their own words
Choosing a school online is difficult. These are from parents and students who already made the decision. Left independently on Trustpilot.
I’ve been really pleased with the support my son has received. Whenever we’ve had a question, the teachers have replied quickly and explained everything clearly. It’s reassuring to know that he can always ask for help if he needs it.
Elena C.Parent · via Trustpilot
The team is incredibly flexible, understanding, and always willing to help whenever you have a question or need support. They genuinely care about their students and make the learning process much less stressful.
Milos L.Student · via Trustpilot
I spent considerable time looking for an online education for my daughter. Frankly, I had to choose IWS. My daughter just finished her AS level subjects and will continue with her A levels in a few months. Both of us are extremely happy.
ArdeshirParent · via Trustpilot
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.
Demi Y.Parent · via Trustpilot
I am currently studying a Foundation Year at IWS Online School and have had a great experience so far. The tutors are helpful, the course materials are clear, and the flexibility of online learning makes studying convenient.
Oum K.Student · via Trustpilot
With the end of my A-Levels this year, I wouldn’t have chosen any better institution than IWS. The immense support throughout my studies contributed to my academic performance and my wellbeing.
SalouaStudent · via Trustpilot
Our experience with IWS is very positive. It provided exactly what we needed and how we needed it: flexibility in study time with good study content, an independent programme and IGCSE.
Chinatsu Y.Parent · via Trustpilot
Caring, professional and friendly team. Thank you.
Giulia B.Parent · via Trustpilot
Four parents, on camera
We can explain how IWS works. Our families can tell you what it is actually like. Filmed at home, unscripted, published with their permission.
Not every student needs the same school day
IWS Academy
Full schoolThe full school week. A regular timetable, houses, clubs, unlimited 1:1 support, and a weekly one to one with a Mentor.
IWS Bridge
AlongsideFive taught lessons a week and more space around them. For a student training several hours a day or studying another programme at the same time, a full timetable isn’t always practical.
IWS Foundation
Own scheduleNo fixed live timetable. Students use recorded lessons and course materials and organise study around their own schedule. They are still following the course, just doing it differently.
You don’t have to decide from a website
A consultation, fifteen minutes
Tell us where your child is, what is working and what is not. We answer on programmes, structure and the fees for their stage.
A trial lesson, with our compliments
Thirty minutes with a qualified teacher, and a look inside the platform your child would use.
A Mentor before the first Monday
Placement, timetable, Mentor and house are settled before your child’s first lesson.
Autumn term 2026
Term begins 14 September
Houses and form groups are settled in the first week. A child who starts with everyone else meets a form group that is also finding its feet. Join later and the friendships have already formed, which is harder, though plenty of students do it and settle well.
We do take students mid-year. September is simply the easier week to arrive.
What would you like to know?
Tell us about your child. What is working at the moment, what isn’t, and what you are weighing up. Our admissions team reads these and replies within one working day.
- Our admissions team replies within one working day
- The consultation carries no fee
- Nothing to decide on the day
Your details go only to our admissions team.
The things parents ask first
Can we join part-way through the year?
In many cases, yes. We look at where your child is in their education and work out the most sensible point for them to join, rather than automatically asking them to wait for a new term.
Will my child fall behind in the move?
That depends on where they are and what they are moving from, and we will give you an honest answer at the consultation rather than a reassuring one. Where there is a gap, unlimited one to one support on Academy is how it gets closed.
What if IWS turns out to be the wrong fit?
Then we should be able to say so. If, from what you tell us, we do not think this is right for your child, we would rather tell you at the consultation than enrol them.
Can we study from another time zone?
Yes. Families join us from across the world. Lessons are timetabled and recorded, and we will be straight with you at the consultation about which parts of the day work from where you are, and which do not.
Do we have to wait for term to start?
No. The autumn term begins on 14 September 2026, and that is the natural point to join, but we take students mid-year too. If a September start is what you want, a conversation this week keeps it open.