The Ultimate IGCSE And A-Levels Homeschooling Guide

IGCSE And A-Levels Homeschooling Guide — Homeschooling has several potential benefits. It not just gives you flexibility and an opportunity for personalised learning, but also fosters strong family bonds by aligning education with the family’s values.

Contrary to popular belief that homeschooling works better only during the initial years of a child’s education, homeschooling for IGCSE and A-Levels has seen a substantial rise as well.

Homeschooling for older children entails a strong commitment, perseverance and a collaborative approach and this article will provide an IGCSE and A-Levels homeschooling guide to navigate this process smoothly.

Homeschool A-Level & IGCSE Students – An Effective Approach?

Homeschooling for IGCSE students in the age group of 14 to 16 and for A-Levels in the age group of 16-18 can be quite an effective approach as children develop a sense of ownership over their education. We have listed a few reasons as a part of our IGCSE and A-Levels homeschooling guide to tell you why homeschooling works well, provided, children get proper guidance – 

1. This is the age when children experience significant developmental changes including a desire for autonomy and a growing need for independence.
2. Homeschooling at this stage is a great way to provide a curriculum tailored to the child’s individual learning style, aptitude and interests.
3. A personalised learning environment is conducive for the child to delve deeper into subjects that pique their interests.
4. Students get to develop self-directed learning skills and work at a pace that is suitable for them.
5. Children get to focus better with less distractions and that can lead to improved academic performance.
6. Homeschooling for IGCSE and A-Levels allows students to adopt tailored support to guide them through its rigorous curriculum.

Homeschooling Curriculum For IGCSE And A-Levels

IGCSE Homeschooling Guide

Creating a homeschooling curriculum for IGCSE requires careful planning and consideration of several factors. Here’s a breakdown of the key steps involved –

1. Selecting An Exam Board – The most common options are Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE), Pearson Edexcel and Oxford AQA. The selection should be based on the child’s comfort with the syllabus, assessment method and preferred learning styles.
2. Subject Selection – IGCSE offers a wide range of subjects of about 8-10. Typically the core subjects include English, Mathematics and Science. Choose other electives based on the child’s interest and future goals.
3. Learning about the Curriculum – It’s important to do a curriculum mapping and learn about the syllabus, content, assessment objectives and the exam format. This helps you to plan your studies accordingly and finish the syllabus within a stipulated time leaving enough time for revision.
4. Creating a Balanced Time-Table – Create a structured schedule, allocating specific time to each subject. Take breaks and indulge in extracurriculars. Set a routine for focussed learning with minimum distractions. Keep the schedule flexible to accommodate any special needs based on the child’s pace.
5. Strategising Teaching Methods – The teaching methods should be based on the child’s preferred learning style. Concentrate on active learning by using discussion methods, projects, application of knowledge in real scenarios, and foster critical thinking skills by problem-solving methods. Encourage self-study and research skills.
6. Regular Assessments – Track the child’s progress and identify their pain points. Simulate exam conditions during mock exams. Review the efficacy of learning material and change, if need be. Provide regular feedback to the child in a positive way.
7. Extracurricular Activities – Homeschooling curriculum for children must include opportunities for them to socialise through extracurriculars by participating in sports, clubs and volunteer or community work.
8. Registering For Exams – Find a convenient exam centre for the child based on the board selected and register before the deadline.

A-Levels Homeschooling Guide

A-Levels are a significant stage in a student’s academic journey as they determine future university admissions and are an important stepping stone for your future career paths. Homeschooling in A-Levels can work well as students get to pursue their chosen subjects with more flexibility. Personalised attention from tutors and a self-directed learning approach. Here’s a quick guide to help you plan and prepare for the A-Levels homeschooling journey –

1. Selecting the Exam Board – The first step is to choose an exam board like CAIE, Pearson Edexcel or OCR by researching on their syllabuses, assessment methods and resources available for homeschooling to suit the child’s aptitude and learning style.
2. Choosing The Desired Subjects – In A-Levels, students specialise in 3-4 subjects based on their interests, strengths and future academic plans. The subjects chosen should thus be based on university requirements for the desired courses.
3. Student’s Learning Style – Assessing the student’s strengths and preferred learning style, makes it easier to tailor the teaching methods and choose research sources like visual, auditory, kinesthetic etc.
4. Time-Management – Creating a realistic schedule that balances study time for A-Levels along with extracurriculars, breaks and personal time without compromising on consistency plays an important role in homeschooling students successfully.
5. Registering For Exams – Find out approved exam centres in advance and register with them well in advance without missing any deadlines.

Resources For IGCSE And A-Level Homeschooling

Another aspect of the IGCSE and A-Levels homeschooling guide is the IGCSE and A-Levels homeschooling resources. Before we discuss them, we want our readers to know that it’s important to assess the child’s needs based on their learning styles, strengths and weaknesses to decide what resources would work best for them. We suggest using a combination of different resources to experience a well-rounded guidance. With so much on your platter, we recommend you organise your resources well, authenticate them and make sure they align with the chosen exam board. Here is the list of some of the resources for IGCSE and A-Level homeschooling –

1. Online Learning Platforms

Renowned online learning platforms like Ascend Now and Khan Academy offer comprehensive courses designed for IGCSE and A-Level curricula. They offer live online classes allowing real-time interaction between students and tutors to ensure active learning, feedback and question-answer sessions. In addition to that, they provide video lessons, quizzes and mock exams. They also offer subject specific in-depth material, access to past papers and open forums that are open to broader discussions.

2. Tuitions and Mentorship

Setting up a homeschool for IGCSE and A-Levels entails hiring specialised tutors for personalised support and guidance, be it at home or on online platforms like Ascend Now. Having a private tutor works well as the child gets undivided attention and can speak up without getting conscious about peers. Mentorship is important for children who need help while selecting subjects for IGCSE or A-Levels or for career guidance.

3. Study Groups

Connect with other homeschooling groups for IGCSE or A-Levels for support. Share your resources with them, collaborate with them and learn through organised group activities. Staying connected with other online forums and communities that can prove to be valuable assets in this journey.

4. Last but not the least, textbooks!

Textbooks are underrated in today’s times, where information flows freely from multiple sources. Select textbooks and exam guides that are recommended by the exam board so that they align with the syllabus. Stick to reputed publishers like Hodder Education, Oxford Education Press or Cambridge Education Press. Utilise libraries, museums and educational websites for supplementary material. 

Benefits of homeschooling IGCSE and A-Levels

1. Aids personalised learning.
2. Minimises distractions.
3. Provides autonomy and flexibility of learning.
4. Fosters strong family bonds.
5. Provides opportunities for social emotional development via extracurricular activities, clubs, community services.
6. Allows families to align education with their values and beliefs (religious/ethical)
7. Addresses differently abled children or children with specific needs.

Homeschooling Vs.Traditional Schooling For IGCSE And A-Levels

The intention is not to declare one approach superior to the other. The choice between homeschooling and traditional schooling is personal. Every individual’s requirement is different and what may work for some, may not work for others. We have the pros and cons for both, and what you choose is completely your prerogative and deserves everyone’s respect –

Homeschooling
Pros	Cons
Personalised learning, individual attention and greater autonomy	Requires greater commitment from parents, their time and effort
Flexibility of schedule, location, learning environment	Managing and organising all resources on your own
Strengthens family bonds as parents are more involved	Needs greater efforts to ensure the child is exposed to social interaction
More focused as there is less distraction	Managing exam registration and logistics
Education can be aligned with family values and principles	May be more expensive depending on resource acquisition and personal tutor costs

Traditional Schooling
Pros	Cons
Structured environment – curriculum, schedule, learning environment.	Offer less flexibility, with fixed schedules and curriculums.
Offers ample peer interaction and socialising opportunities.	Classroom situations have multiple distractions.
Students have access to qualified teachers, their support and expertise.	Students receive less individual attention from teachers.
Schools provide resources like libraries and references for studies.	The pace of learning may not suit everyone, especially children with varied learning styles.
Schools have exposure to extracurriculars like sports, dramatics, music & various other clubs.	The curriculum cannot be customised when it comes to content and approach.

Accreditation For IGCSE And A-Levels In Homeschooling

IGCSE and A-Levels are internationally recognised qualifications that are accredited by renowned exam boards. It does not matter whether the student is homeschooled or attends a traditional school. The IGCSE and A-Levels qualifications carry the same weightage in both the scenarios. What matters is their results and grades, and not the schooling setup. We recommend, whatever you pick, do it whole-heartedly and enjoy the process. Weigh the pros and cons and decide what would suit the child better and foster his growth in the best possible way.

Need Assistance in Homeschooling Your Kids? 

For any help in exam preparation for homeschooled IGCSE and A-Level students, register with Ascend Now. We offer assistance like providing IGCSE and A-Levels homeschooling guide and cater to every learning style with tailored resources. Parents may lack expertise in certain subjects and complex concepts, especially at A-Levels. The tutors at Ascend Now provide targeted support with personalised sessions to address those pain points. Their knowledge on the exam formats, question types and assessment criteria along with their expert preparation strategies can contribute substantially in your child’s studies and offer the much needed accountability from an external structure as well.