How Academy21 and King’s InterHigh work together to support every learner
At Academy21, we work with young people at some of the most complex and fragile points in their educational journey. Many of the pupils we support are not struggling because they lack ability or motivation, but because the environment around them no longer fits their needs. For these learners, the right intervention, at the right moment, can be transformative.
We know that young people deserve an education that meets them where they are, not a one-size-fits-all approach, and that’s what we aim to support alongside our sister school, King’s InterHigh. Both Academy21 and King’s InterHigh are part of the Inspired Education Group, the biggest network of private schools across the globe. We offer a range of pathways that ensure continuity, confidence and opportunity for learners in every Key Stage from primary through to post-16.
But we also offer fundamentally different solutions and approaches that cater to specific needs. In this blog, we unpack what makes each school unique and how our services complement one another.
Academy21: intervention with purpose
Academy21 is the UK’s leading online alternative provision specialist and the first to be accredited by the DfE. For more than a decade, we’ve been partnering with schools, local authorities and families across England and Wales to deliver flexible, high-quality online education solutions tailored to students with specific needs.
Placements at Academy21 are typically short- to medium-term (ranging from one week to several months). They are purposeful, time-bound, and shaped around clear goals agreed with schools or Local Authorities. All our solutions are aimed at maintaining academic momentum while rebuilding confidence, routine and trust in learning.
Because of this, our model looks very different from that of a traditional school, online or otherwise. We offer a curriculum for Key Stages 2 to 4 (and Key Stage 5 via King’s InterHigh) that mimics that of mainstream schools. However, students usually study specific subjects rather than a full timetable.
For example, they might be taking core GCSE subjects like English or Maths with Academy21 and accessing the rest of the curriculum at their mainstream school in a hybrid model.
All our lessons are live and adaptive, with deliberately small class sizes of no more than 15 pupils to maintain engagement and allow teachers to respond to individual needs in real time. Pastoral support is embedded in every lesson, and teachers adopt trauma-informed and relational approaches to communicate with students and help them start reengaging.
Perhaps most importantly, communication with student mentors sits at the heart of what we do. We know the value of partnership and understand that student support has to be a joint effort, so we provide as much data and insight into pupil progress as possible.
Through our Mentor portal, mentors can access daily reporting metrics, such as engagement and attendance, to gain clear visibility into progress and wellbeing. This close oversight enables timely decisions and smoother transitions, whether a pupil is preparing to reintegrate into a physical setting or to move on to another provision.
Students at Academy21
Many of the young people we support have experienced repeated disruption, misunderstanding or unmet needs. Some have lost confidence in their ability to succeed at school, while others associate learning with failure or anxiety. This might be due to anxiety, unmet SEND, behavioural challenges, medical needs, or simply unfortunate circumstances at home. In some cases, pupils have already been excluded; in others, they are at serious risk of disengagement.
Some of our students:
- Are experiencing severe or persistent absence
- Have been excluded or are at risk of exclusion
- Are awaiting a new school placement
- Require regular positive feedback to rebuild confidence
- Need a calm, structured learning environment while longer-term plans are put in place
This is why our approach prioritises timely support, targeted programmes, such as our GCSE Boosters to support students in their GCSE exams, or our pastoral support courses to help them improve their wellbeing, alongside regular curriculum delivery.
See our case studies here.
King’s InterHigh: a whole-school experience
While Academy21 focuses on intervention, King’s InterHigh is designed for continuity and community. As our sister school, King’s InterHigh offers a full online schooling experience for students whose needs are best met through a longer-term online pathway. It covers Key Stages 2 to 5 and follows a comprehensive and varied British curriculum with students working towards full qualifications, including GCSEs, A Levels and the IB Diploma Programme, and preparing for their desired career pathways or further education.
King’s InterHigh students typically enrol for at least a year, often for several, as families choose us for our flexibility and educational continuity as they fit school into other commitments, be it early careers or travel. The structure is more akin to a traditional school, with a set timetable, tutor groups and a wide range of enrichment opportunities such as after-school clubs and in-person events.
Similar to Academy21, King’s InterHigh also maintains a personalised teaching approach, offering small classes, live teaching, and strong pastoral care. What distinguishes it from us at Academy21 is that King’s InterHigh is not designed to stabilise learning temporarily, but to provide a complete school experience over time. For students who need flexibility but still want the social and academic breadth of school life, this model is often the most suitable choice.
Students at King’s InterHigh
The typical King’s InterHigh student is a child for whom online education is a long-term solution rather than a temporary measure, as it suits their learning needs or lifestyle. This may include students who:
- Have SEND and prefer an online, focused environment
- Have young careers and busy schedules
- Are academically advanced and have ambitious goals
- Want a British curriculum with varied subject options
- Travel frequently due to a nomadic lifestyle
- Want socialisation and self-development opportunities
A shared commitment to meeting students where they are
Although our models differ, Academy21 and King’s InterHigh share the belief that education works best when it is responsive to the individual. For some students, the priority is stabilisation, confidence-building, and a supported route back into mainstream education. For others, it is continuity, breadth, and a long-term online pathway that allows them to succeed on their own terms.
By offering two distinct but complementary models, Academy21 and King’s InterHigh ensure that students can access the right support, at the right time, in the right format. If you have any questions regarding the support or services offered at Academy21, please reach out to our team.
Written by
Academy21
Posted on
27/01/2026
Updated on
27/01/2026
Topic
Student successPost type
Blog
