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If you’re thinking of enrolling your child at Wolsey Hall Oxford and you’d like to know more about what we do or how to enrol, please get in touch. We’re ready to enrol new students throughout the academic year.
Homeschooling with Wolsey Hall
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What subjects can my child study through Wolsey Hall Oxford?
Wolsey Hall offers courses for families wanting their children to have a structured approach to their homeschooling journey. We offer subjects at IGCSE (typically study starts at 14 years old) and A level (typically study starts at 16 years old) in a range of subjects: IGCSE and A-Levels are 2-year programmes of study in a subject. We also offer Lower Secondary subjects for children aged 11 – 14 and Primary courses for children aged 3.5 – 10: Lower Secondary and Primary courses are 1-year programmes of study in a subject, with multiple year groups available in each phase. You have the choice of which subjects, and how many, you wish your child to study. Our Admissions team would be delighted to discuss options with you. -
How many subjects should my child study and are any compulsory?
There is no minimum number of subjects required for you to study with us. However, we recommend studying at least English, Maths and Science at Year 1 through to IGCSE if Wolsey Hall is your main pathway for learning. Typically, we would recommend: Lower Primary: minimum of 3 subjects. Upper Primary or Lower Secondary: minimum of 5 subjects. GCSEs: minimum of 5 subjects, but if your pathway is to competitive universities/colleges then between 8 and 11. A-Levels: 3 subjects. -
What qualifications will my child receive at the end of their course?
For Primary and Lower Secondary students, we provide an end-of-course report based on your child’s chosen subjects. For IGCSE or A level your child will receive a certificate from the examination board (either Cambridge (CAIE) or Edexcel depending on the subject) through their exam centre. This will indicate the grade that your child has obtained. -
Can my child study from outside the UK?
Yes, absolutely! We have students in over 130 countries and if you have a reliable internet connection your child will be able to keep up with their studies wherever they are. However, if you reside in North Korea or Iran, we are unable to enrol you or your child as our Learning Platform is blocked in these countries. -
What happens when my child starts their course?
You will receive profiles of your Tutors and your Student Progress Manager. Your course books will be dispatched once payment is made. Within the UK, course books typically arrive within three working days. For international deliveries, books are usually sent by courier, which normally takes between five to seven days, depending on your location. You can access your courses on our online learning platform within three days of enrolment at the earliest, or you may choose to begin studying up to three months from the enrolment date. Your Student Progress Manager will contact you to arrange a Welcome Call around your chosen access date to help you prepare for your studies. They will also create a personalised assignment schedule based on the time you have available for study, providing a clear structure to follow. Your Tutors will also reach out to arrange a Welcome Call. You will then begin your self-guided study, learning at your own pace, and at a time that suits you. -
Are there any online lessons?
Our primary aim is to provide a flexible, enjoyable, varied, and multimedia approach to studying that helps develop independent learners. Our courses do not include scheduled online lessons, as students work through the materials at their own pace. However, all courses feature enrichment and enhancement video content to complement, extend, or test knowledge. Many courses also include subscriptions to a wide variety of educational and interactive materials. Additionally, many Wolsey Hall courses have quizzes to test knowledge, and there are assignments at milestones throughout the course. These are marked by our qualified, UK-trained, and experienced teachers, known as Tutors, who provide marking, annotations, areas of strength, and next steps in learning. -
What is the online learning environment like?
Our online learning platform contains a student’s courses along with numerous resources to aid learning and is easy to use. Parents of older students can access the Learning Platform separately from their child as an “observer.” This allows you to see the feedback your child receives from their Tutors and access all available resources. The Learning Platform also enables direct messaging with Tutors and provides information about other Wolsey Hall offerings such as community clubs, the virtual library, and the Secondary Student Forum. -
What computer equipment will my child need?
Our courses are hosted on our learning platform, Canvas, so students will need a computer to access the course materials. An internet connection is required, although you can download lessons and work offline for some material. Your child will also need a printer and a device for scanning completed assignments, which is usually a scanner or smartphone. -
How long will a course take?
The duration of a course depends on your child’s prior knowledge of the subject and their learning pace. Students can enrol in our Primary and Lower Secondary courses at any time of the year and typically complete each subject within 9-12 months of enrolment. For IGCSE, Wolsey Hall advises studying the full courses over 18-24 months (about 2 years). For AS and A Level, the recommended study period is 9-12 months for AS courses and 18-24 months for full A Level courses. For additional information about recommended study hours, please visit the Course Information pages on our website. -
Can a student accelerate their studies?
It is possible to complete Primary and Lower Secondary courses in less than 9-12 months if your child can handle a faster pace of study, such as 6 months. For IGCSE, Wolsey Hall advises studying the full IGCSE courses concurrently over the standard 18–24-month timeline, especially for core subjects like Maths and English Language. However, depending on prior learning experience, it is possible to study up to five IGCSEs in 9-12 months, or students can split exams over two years, taking four or five each year. For A Levels, if a student is studying 3-4 subjects, Wolsey Hall advises 18-24 months to cover both AS and A Level content and exams. It may be possible to accelerate A Level study to 9-12 months if only studying 1-2 subjects with Wolsey Hall. -
What assignments will my child have to complete?
For Primary and Lower Secondary courses, students have regular assignments marked by their Tutor. For IGCSE and A Level courses, assignments are designed to prepare students fully for their exams. These assignments do not count towards the exam grade but are assessed, and Tutors provide extensive feedback. Many assignments are based on previous exam papers, offering excellent practice for the types of questions in the exams. -
What is the deadline for applying?
There is no deadline for applying for Primary or Lower Secondary courses; you can start at any time during the year. Students can also start IGCSE and A Level courses at any time, provided there is enough time to study and complete the courses before their intended examination date. Our admissions team will advise on the most suitable exam dates based on when a student intends to start their studies. -
What happens if we need to extend our course term for a non-examination course?
If a Non-Examination Year (Lower Primary, Upper Primary, or Lower Secondary) student has been unable to complete their courses within the 12-month course term, we offer a three-month extension per course. This decision is at the discretion of Wolsey Hall and will be based on whether the student can finish within three months. The fee for an extension is £100 per course. -
What happens if we need to defer our IGCSE or A Level exam dates?
A student can defer their exam date within the course term for an administrative fee, if the new exam sitting date is not more than two years (for IGCSE or full A Level) or one year (for AS Level) from the initial Access Date. In the first three months from the Access Date, no fees are payable for deferrals. After three months, fees apply: £50 per course for 1-3 courses, £40 per course for 4-6 courses, and £35 per course for 7 or more courses. Additional charges apply if a syllabus change necessitates new books or additional assignments. -
Can IGCSE/A level students extend their courses if needed?
Yes, it is possible to extend IGCSE, AS, and A Level courses. From 1 April 2024, extension fees are as follows: One course – £200 to extend to the next available sitting, £400 to extend by up to two exam sittings (up to 12 months in total). For two or more courses – £200 per course to extend by up to two exam sittings (up to 12 months in total). A bespoke quote can be provided for additional courses added after the initial bundle. -
What happens if I want to change year group of study for a subject?
Students who enrol in a year group subject and need to change to a different year group for the same subject can do so early in their course (within three months of the Access Date) if academically required. The expiry date of the new course remains the same as the old one. There is no fee for changes within 45 days of the Access Date. After 45 days, the fee is £50 if no more than one assignment has been submitted, and £100 if two or three assignments have been submitted. If the course you are moving to has a higher fee, the difference is payable, along with the administrative fee. You are also responsible for the cost of new books and postage if required. -
What happens if I want to change my subject to a different one in the same year group?
Students can change subjects at the same level within three months of the Access Date. The expiry date of the new course remains the same as the old one. There is no fee for changes within 45 days of the Access Date. After 45 days, the fee is £100 if no assignments have been submitted and £200 if up to three assignments have been submitted. If the new course has a higher fee, the difference is payable, along with the administrative fee. You are responsible for the cost of new books and postage if required.
Guide to the UK education system
Exams and centres
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How does my child enter for their exams?
You need to apply to an exam centre for your child to take their IGCSE and A Level exams. We regret that we cannot do this for you, but your Student Progress Manager will help and advise you about exam arrangements. We also provide access to our Examination Information course via Canvas, which provides information on how to enter external exams as private candidates and advice on finding an exam centre. We also have Exams Officers, both for UK and International students, to help you with exam centres if you need assistance. -
How do we find an exam centre?
In the UK, Cambridge and Edexcel exam boards have centres throughout the country. Outside the UK, your child can usually sit their exams at a local British Council office or an International School. We can provide a list of centres in your region and within our Exam Information course on Canvas. Availability is subject to change, so we recommend contacting your chosen centre before your child begins their course. We can advise on this if you have questions.
Support
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What kind of support will my child get from Wolsey Hall?
Your child will receive support from three main sources: Tutors: Each subject has a Tutor who will assess and grade assignments. We invite you and your child to arrange an online call with Tutors before starting the course. This “Welcome Call” allows you and your child to ask any questions about the course. Your child can contact Tutors via the Canvas messaging system throughout the course. Tutors primarily provide feedback on assignments rather than giving online tutorials. Student Progress Managers (SPM): Your SPM is your key link with Wolsey Hall, monitoring student progress across all subjects, checking in with your regularly, and handling administrative issues like changing assignment schedules. They also encourage students to stay on track with their assignment schedule. Parents: Parental involvement is crucial in homeschooling. Regular engagement and support from parents significantly enhance the homeschooling experience. The younger the student, the more involvement is required. -
How much support do I need to provide my child?
Parental involvement is vital, though the amount varies. Primary students need the full support of an adult at home to guide learning. Lower Secondary students typically need more guidance than IGCSE and A Level students. Key ways to help include: Encouragement: Offer support and discuss issues. Communication: Encourage your child to contact their Tutors or SPM. Timetable: Ensure your child has a daily and weekly study timetable. Progress Review: Regularly review your child’s progress relative to their timetable and assignment schedule. You also have access to Canvas as an “observer” if your child has their own login to the Learning Platform so you can monitor progress. Younger Primary students have one login used by the parent/student combined. -
What happens if my child falls behind with their work?
If your child falls behind, contact your SPM to rearrange the assignment schedule. If further issues arise, inform the SPM promptly to find a suitable solution. -
Who are your Tutors?
Our Tutors are fully qualified teachers with a wealth of experience, coming from diverse academic and professional backgrounds. They share a love for their subject and a passion for teaching. -
How often can my child contact their tutors and how often will they meet them?
Your child can contact Tutors anytime via the learning platform. Primary students can meet Tutors after each assignment submission. Lower Secondary students can meet Tutors at the start, middle, and end of their courses. IGCSE and A Level students are offered a welcome call and a mid-course call.
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