Why Online Might Be Right For You (And Why It Might Not)

Online schooling has gone through countless iterations over the past decade, not just at Minerva Virtual Academy (MVA) but across the (still very young!) industry.

As a result, there is still some fuzziness around what an online school actually looks like, how it works, and who it's actually for - something MVA has long grappled with, and continues to do so.

But this year, as private and independent schools see scores of families forced to look elsewhere due to rising costs or the schools themselves closing their doors, I'd like to help paint a clearer picture of who online schooling is for, and who it's not.

Fees

Firstly, let's get the money bit out of the way.

I truly foresee a future where state-run online schools are available, but we're not there yet. That said, independent online schools like MVA are still in general far more affordable that most other private and independent options.

At an average of £22,000 per year (£38,000 for boarding), private school costs are already steep. At MVA, that cost is just under £9000 per year.

Not only are fees lower in general (because we don't need to pay for maintaining a physical school building, for example) but MVA's fees in particular also have not gone up with the changes to VAT.

There are also multiple paths in which fees can be partly or fully paid by your local authority if your child has a specific need.

The point is, online is likely far more affordable than you think.

Personalised Learning

One of the biggest selling points of private school is the promise of small classes and a more personal focus on your child. I've heard from countless parents, dreading the prospect of losing that closer attention and seeing their child become just a number.

But this level of individual care is not unique to private school.

Online schools like MVA are often ultra-flexible and adaptable, built to fit your child as a person, not a statistic. MVA in particular has a 1:1 mentor for every single child who, through weekly meetings, is dedicated to ensuring your child's school experience is the very best it can be for them and them alone.

Mentors are responsible not just for ensuring their mentees academic progress stays strong, but also for monitoring the student's mental wellbeing, and guiding them through the extracurricular parts of young life, like work experience or exploring hobbies and creative outlets.

It's a level of individual care and attention that is rare even at top private schools, and it's baked into our model.

Social Life

One of the biggest misconceptions about online school is that students miss out on the usual socialising that happens in a physical school location.

Clubs, trips, extracurricular activities, sports teams - what is there in an online environment to replace them?

Nothing.

Because we have them all.

The social aspect of school is a vibrant and intentional part of MVA, rather than being left to happen almost by accident. Clubs and trips are expanded year on year, and MVA has made historic steps in this area in 2025, with our first residential and by becoming the first online school to offer the The Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

Coupled with dedicated social rooms, our ever-growing roster of Mentors and mental health specialists, and a Flipped Learning system which encourages self-motivation, independence and resilience, MVA is built to ensure students are happy, healthy, and growing into their very best selves.

A Global Community

MVA, and many online schools like it, are not restricted to one area, or even country. MVA has more than 1600 students in more than 60 countries around the world, with 2025 seeing the launch of our first regional community in the Gulf Area.

A student at MVA is immediately exposed and enriched by a wide variety of cultures and experiences that differ from their own, giving them a much deeper sense of the world they are growing up in.

Not only is this, in my opinion, fantastic for the students themselves in terms of becoming a more well-rounded adult, it also means they build connections and relationships all over the world before they've even finished their GCSEs, giving them a material advantage when they eventually head into the adult world.

Questioning the Traditional, Embracing the Modern

MVA was built on the idea that just because something is traditional, it doesn't mean it's the best.

The mainstream school system has barely changed since the Victorian Era and, while techniques may have been the best we could do at the time, we believe that a fresh look with modern technology in mind is the way forward.

This attitude continues into our approach to teaching itself, with an embracing of technology, and a real push to ensure students leave our school with an understanding of the rapidly progressing world they are set to inherit.

AI, for example, is undoubtedly going to change the world faster than social media or the smart phone ever did - children today will likely be doing jobs that are barely conceivable now.

We're built with the future in mind, including the future of our students.

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