Wolsey Hall Oxford A GSG School
- Wolsey Hall Oxford
Midland House
West Way
Oxford
Oxfordshire
OX2 0PH - Head: Gavin McLean
- T 01865 988307
- E [email protected]
- W wolseyhalloxford.org.uk/
- An Independent online school for boys and girls aged from 3 to 18
- Boarding: No
- Local authority: Unknown
- Pupils: 3000
- Religion: Inter- / non- denominational
- Fees: From £1,200 to £2,500 per course, p/a (last updated on 27/02/2025)
- Open days: Take place fortnightly
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
What The Good Schools Guide says..
As flexible as it gets, with students choosing what, where, when and how they study – with no live lessons, no set timetables and no minimum number of subjects. ‘A home schooler’s dream,’ as one parent said, ‘especially if you don’t want them to have too much screen time.’ No need to stick to the same education level for all subjects either – a child might be in year 3 maths but year 6 English. A USP is that every student gets a student progress manager (SPM) who meets them online, then oversees their entire learning journey. Several parents told us the SPMs were the reason they chose the school. A few felt ‘some SPMs are better than…
What the school says...
Wolsey Hall Oxford is the world’s most experienced flexible learning provider. Established 130 years ago, thousands of students have accessed high quality education at home, with many going on to attend top universities worldwide.
Wolsey Hall Oxford is delighted to be a Cambridge accredited school. Our courses are open to students aged 4-18 so learners can complete their whole school age education with us, studying a curriculum that is respected worldwide.
The home learning environment means students can study at a time and pace to suit them as there are no online classes to attend. For some this can mean studying at a higher academic level, while others enjoy the flexibility of more time to ensure they really grasp each module. Strong independent learning skills and time management are developed along the way which prepares students well for higher education.
Supporting each and every student:
Our highly qualified and experienced tutors are passionate in their specialist subjects and thrive on passing this passion on to their students. They are always available to answer questions and provide support.
Upon enrolment, a student progress manager is assigned to the pupil and is their main point of contact building a strong relationship. They answer queries, provide encouragement, and help to keep them on track with their study schedule.
Our learning support team has extensive experience of supporting children with a wide variety of additional needs. The team helps to remove and adapt to barriers of learning so that each student can reach their full potential.
A student’s experience at Wolsey Hall Oxford:
‘I have been a student at Wolsey Hall for just about five years now. I did my IGCSE and A levels and now graduating soon. I am pleased to say that I’ve had the most amazing experience with them. Wolsey Hall provides each student with the flexibility to balance a healthy school life, while still helping them stay in task (through the specially designed course schedules, catered by your student progress manager). The teachers at Wolsey have been nothing less than incredible, with them always willing to help in any way you need. They leave detailed annotations and feedback on every submitted piece of work. I am forever grateful for the amazing staff at Wolsey Hall, as they have supported me through my studies, and pushed me to believe in my academic capabilities in a way I never did before - truly heroes!’
Mia
A parent’s perspective:
‘I am delighted to provide a positive report on my daughter's two-year study experience for IGCSEs at Wolsey Hall. Several key factors throughout her journey contributed to an enriching and successful educational experience – the programme's flexibility, the staff's quality in providing written feedback and suggesting further reading and the professional support provided by the student progress manager. These have all contributed to her academic success and personal growth. I cannot thank Wolsey Hall enough for their dedication to providing a top-quality education and supporting my daughter every step of the way.’
John ...Read more
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Other features
All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.
What The Good Schools Guide says
Principal
Since 2023, Gavin McLean, whose career in international education started in publishing company Macmillan and later included National Geographic Learning before he moved into online schooling, first with Edmentum and then Hudson Global Scholars as vice president.
There is an air of quiet confidence about this businessman and educator – and no wonder: ‘Before Covid, we mainly appealed to travelling families, student athletes and the gifted and talented – but now, all types of families come to us.’ With the VAT on private schools, he anticipates a further surge. But there’s still work to do, he says, in tackling the ‘cornerstone reservations’ that many parents still have, notably that online learning is isolating, requires a huge amount of specialist support and that it compromises the quality of learning – ‘none...
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Special Education Needs
At Wolsey Hall Oxford, we believe every student deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, including those with additional needs. Our unique approach to homeschooling provides an ideal environment for students to work at their own pace, choose study methods that suit their individual needs, and tailor their learning spaces to best fit their personal preferences. With no online lessons to attend, families have complete control over their home-based education, with peace of mind that the right curriculum content is being covered. By choosing Wolsey Hall Oxford, families can create a supportive and adaptable learning environment that empowers students with SEND to thrive academically and personally. Every student is an individual and there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to learning support. There may be times when there are challenges or barriers to learning encountered by a student. We are happy to use our experience to help you manage the learning at home. Tier 1: Supporting all learners Flexible and personalised learning schedule that allows students to choose their subjects, pace, level of study, schedule, breaks, time of day. A dedicated student progress manager (SPM) is on hand to answer questions and give advice, monitoring overall progress. Support from specialist tutors, who are qualified UK teachers, with a wealth of experience working with students with diverse learning and wellbeing needs. Regular feedback from expert tutors will help learners understand their progress and identify areas for improvement. Access to a wide range of resources through our support for learning course, where you will find an abundance of tips and tools for effective learning. Our easy to use Canvas learning platform, with a simple and intuitive interface that allows learners to access their courses, assignments, grades, feedback, and communication tools. We provide varied and engaging learning materials. The course content is presented in multiple formats, such as text, video, audio, and interactive simulations, catering for all learning preferences. Tier 2: Targeted support and information Student progress managers (SPMs) will be walking through the learning journey with you, every step of the way. They will have an oversight of progress and will be able to offer targeted advice and support, enabling students to stay focused and on track. For example, this might be offering strategies on how to stay organised or information on how to create an effective study space at home. Tier 3: One-to-one bespoke sessions with a specialist tutor (paid services) We have a team of specialist tutors who can offer tailored one-to-one online sessions in all areas of SEND and wellbeing, from ADHD to anxiety (and everything in between). Short or long-term services of support can be put in place for our students. We have a range of interventions that can help students reach their full potential and overcome any barriers to learning. Interventions aim to create strong, independent learners who feel ready to tackle their studies with confidence. We offer a range of additional learning support services designed to enhance the educational experience and cater to individual needs. Our paid-for learning support services include: General consultation: support for parents of children with additional needs, helping to navigate their educational journey. Access arrangement advice: expert advice for parents seeking special arrangements for their child during I/GCSE, AS, and A Level examination phases. One-to-one student sessions with a learning support specialist: personalised sessions focused on addressing the specific additional needs of each student. Wellbeing and positive mental health support: one-to-one sessions dedicated to promoting student wellbeing and mental health.
| Condition | Provision for in school |
|---|---|
| ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Might cover/be referred to as;
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Aspergers, Autism, High functioning autism, Neurodivergent, Neurodiversity, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), PDA , Social skills, Sensory processing disorder |
Y |
| HI - Hearing Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
Hearing Impairment, HI - Hearing Impairment |
Y |
| MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Learning needs, MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty |
Y |
| MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment, Sensory processing |
Y |
| OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability
Might cover/be referred to as;
Downs Syndrome, Epilepsy, Genetic , OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability, Tics, Tourettes |
Y |
| PD - Physical Disability
Might cover/be referred to as;
PD - Physical Disability |
Y |
| PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Complex needs, Global delay, Global developmental delay, PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty |
Y |
| SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health
Might cover/be referred to as;
Anxiety , Complex needs, Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), Mental Health, SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Trauma |
Y |
| SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication
Might cover/be referred to as;
DLD - Developmental Language Disorder, Selective mutism, SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication |
Y |
| SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Complex needs, SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty, Cerebral Palsy (CP) |
Y |
| SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Auditory Processing, DCD, Developmental Co-ordination Difficulties (DCD), Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Handwriting, Other specific learning difficulty, SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) |
Y |
| VI - Visual Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
Special facilities for Visually Impaired, VI - Visual Impairment |
Y |
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