Although there are no official statistics available, it is estimated that there are thousands of students living on remote islands globally. This includes but is not limited to: Fair Isle, Isles of Scilly and Lindisfarne. For these students, acquiring an A-level qualification may be difficult as not all islands are able to offer 6th form studies. This causes increasing problems for parents attempting to ensure their children receive an adequate education.
Rules in the UK, require that all 16-year-olds should complete one of the following:
- stay in full-time education until the age of 18, either through 6th form school or college
- complete an apprenticeship
- spend 20 hours or more per week whilst working or volunteering, and in conjunction with part-time education/training
Access to education when living remotely is a worldwide issue and many families seek alternative options to relying on traditional schools when international A-Levels are required.
What Is the Impact on Education When Living Remotely?
If we use the Isles of Scilly as an example, due to the lack of a 6th form college, learners are required to study on the mainland, often having to find host families, or private boarding arrangements during term time. This can cause anxiety and stress for families trying to ensure that children receive the best education opportunities available.
The alternative is to embark on other forms of education that can be studied remotely and independently. In the absence of a structured school environment, it can be difficult to stay disciplined and motivated to revise and study.
In the long term, this may negatively impact results. There is also the possibility of a shortage of qualified teachers and adequate resources. This can have a knock-on effect on the overall standard of education received or decrease the likelihood of receiving constructive feedback on essays and practice exams.
How Does This Affect the Completion of Exams?
To gain an A-level qualification, subjects involve exams which must be conducted in an approved exam centre. In remote areas, centres may be extremely far away or not exist at all in an acceptable radius.
Thought must be given to travelling to exam centres and with between 3 and 4 examinations per A-Level subject this could involve several trips. Some exam centres require physical registration, which can also be difficult. The whole process can be complex, time-consuming and expensive.
Consideration should also be given to the possibility of time-zone issues, where exams are scheduled in a standardised time-zone which may not match up with other areas. To find out where your nearest exam centre is, you can visit the website of the exam board for your subject/s.
All things considered, many parents/guardians feel it is worthwhile to ensure that A-Level qualifications are achieved and with limited options available, this can resolve many concerns; albeit not the ideal solution they would want.
Can Home Schooling Programs Be an Option?
Home-schooling may be an option for some students, and there are various ways that this can be arranged. Firstly, there is the option of a traditional school-at-home approach, where parents or carers may feel confident to teach students A-level content, set homework and tests. However, this may feel rigid and stressful, or carers may not feel confident enough teaching the content or even may not teach it accurately. Alternatively, there is the option of distance learning a levels through an online learning platform.
Why Use Online Learning Platforms?
In areas where the number of physical educational institutions may be limited, students often use online learning platforms to complete assignments, revise topics and register for exams. It should be noted that in areas where internet signals may be limited, this can cause potential issues for accessing and submitting work. Different platforms offer different services. Some may offer bespoke 1:1 or group tutoring, others may provide resources alongside assignments for you to complete and receive feedback on. The quality of online learning platforms is increasing year by year and will keep improving as technology advances. It would be a wise idea to consider which online learning platform is best suited to you, by reading website reviews and contacting the platform.
It is important to note that providing A-level examinations have been sat under an approved awarding body such as AQA, Edexcel Pearson, Cambridge International, qualifications are valid internationally. This means that these grades can be used to apply for university or jobs and will attract UCAS points.
Final Thoughts
Whilst in an ideal world, learners would be able to attend a traditional school or college to complete A-Level qualifications, this is not always possible due to a number of reasons and similar results can be achieved by studying remotely. Whilst this is not an easy option to choose, by staying focused, motivated and organised, there is no reason why aspirations can’t be fulfilled.
