Highgrove Education — Premium British Online School
Research Date: 2 March 2026 Relevance to GenEvolve: Best-in-class traditional online school with exceptional results; founded by Heather Rhodes (ex-Harrow School Online); demonstrates what premium online education looks like within the traditional system
Company Overview
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Highgrove Education / Highgrove Online School |
| Founded | 2020 |
| Founder | Heather Rhodes (previously founded Harrow School Online) |
| Headquarters | UK |
| Students | Growing international cohort (class sizes capped at 10-12) |
| Ages | Early Years through Sixth Form |
| Curriculum | British: GCSEs, A-Levels, EPQ |
| Results | 78% A*/A at A-Level; 83% 7-9 at GCSE |
| Website | highgroveeducation.com |
Sources: Highgrove Education website, World Schools
Founder: Heather Rhodes
Heather Rhodes is one of the most experienced figures in UK online schooling: - Previously founded Harrow School Online — digital arm of one of Britain's most prestigious schools - Deep understanding of what premium education parents expect - Now building her own brand independent of Harrow's legacy - Positioned Highgrove as "affordable premium" — high quality without the £30K+ boarding school fees
Academic Results
Highgrove's results are exceptional for an online school:
| Exam | Result |
|---|---|
| A-Level | 78% A*/A |
| GCSE | 83% grades 7-9 |
For comparison: - National average A-Level A*/A: ~27% - King's InterHigh: not publicly reported at this granularity - Sophia High: too young for published results
These results make Highgrove the highest-performing online school in our research.
Curriculum & Delivery
Teaching Model: Flipped Learning
Highgrove uses a distinctive flipped learning approach:
- Self-study phase: Students work through interactive, pre-prepared materials independently
- Live lesson phase: Two live lessons per subject per week — focused on applying knowledge, discussion, and addressing challenges
- Support phase: Drop-in office hours + fortnightly 1:1 sessions with a dedicated learning coach
Class Sizes
| Level | Maximum Class Size |
|---|---|
| Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9) | 12 |
| GCSE (Years 10-11) | 12 |
| A-Level (Years 12-13) | 10 |
Programmes Available (2025-2026)
| Programme | Availability |
|---|---|
| Full-time (Years 7-13) | Available |
| Part-time GCSE | Available |
| Part-time A-Level | Available |
| Year 9 courses | Available |
| EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) | Available |
| Flexible tutoring | Available |
| Full curriculum Years 7-9 | From September 2026 |
2025-2026 Developments
| Development | Detail |
|---|---|
| Student-led clubs | Expanded programme: Debate Club, Millionaire's Book Club, Science Society, Photography, Arts & Culture, Film Club |
| Global reach | Now accepting enrolments from all time zones; hubs in Spain and Caribbean |
| Bursaries | Free places for Ukrainian pupils affected by the war |
| Year 7-9 expansion | Full curriculum for Years 7-9 from September 2026 |
| 2026-2027 admissions | Applications now open |
Sources: Digital Journal, Highgrove Blog
Pricing (2026)
| Level | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Early Years | From £1,850 |
| Primary | From £3,500 |
| Key Stage 3 | From £5,000 |
| GCSE | From £7,500 |
| A-Level | From £9,500 |
| Flexible tutoring | From £1,850 |
| Maximum | Up to £11,450 |
Price Positioning
| School | Annual Fee Range |
|---|---|
| King's InterHigh | £2,750–£7,020 |
| Highgrove Education | £1,850–£11,450 |
| Sophia High School | £9,600–£13,455 |
| Oxford Online School | £3,918–£9,720 |
Highgrove spans the widest price range — from affordable flexible tutoring (£1,850) to premium A-Level (£11,450). The A-Level pricing reflects the exceptional results (78% A*/A) and tiny class sizes (max 10).
Strengths
- Best academic results — 78% A*/A at A-Level; 83% 7-9 at GCSE; highest of any online school researched
- Founder credibility — Heather Rhodes previously founded Harrow School Online
- Flipped learning model — pedagogically sound; maximises live session value
- Small class sizes — 10-12 students maximum
- Dedicated learning coach — fortnightly 1:1 sessions for every student
- International expansion — hubs in Spain and Caribbean; all time zones accepted
- Student-led activities — clubs and societies for personal development
- Flexible programmes — full-time, part-time, tutoring, and EPQ options
- Ukrainian bursaries — demonstrates values-led approach
- Wide price range — accessible options (£1,850) alongside premium (£11,450)
Weaknesses
- Traditional curriculum — GCSEs and A-Levels; the exam system GenEvolve rejects
- Small scale — class size caps mean limited total student numbers
- Young school — founded 2020; limited track record beyond initial cohorts
- No OEAS accreditation — not yet DfE-accredited under the online education scheme
- No SEND specialism — accommodates but not designed for neurodivergent students
- Founder dependency — Heather Rhodes' reputation is the brand
- No disclosed ownership/backing — unclear long-term financial sustainability
- Flipped model requires self-discipline — may not suit all learners, especially younger students or those with SEND
- No AI/tech differentiator — doesn't compete on technology with Inspired/GEMS
- Limited brand recognition — "Highgrove" doesn't carry institutional weight (yet)
Shelley's View
From WhatsApp (28 Feb 2026), Shelley referenced Highgrove as one of the UK online schools she's aware of — a benchmark competitor playing the traditional game exceptionally well.
Lessons for GenEvolve
What Highgrove Gets Right
| Lesson | GenEvolve Application |
|---|---|
| Exceptional results | Whatever assessment model GenEvolve uses, outcomes must be demonstrably excellent |
| Small class sizes | 10-12 maximum is the premium standard; GenEvolve should match or beat this |
| Flipped learning | Self-paced study + focused live sessions is efficient and effective |
| Learning coaches | Every student having a dedicated coach aligns with GenEvolve's wellbeing focus |
| Flexible options | Offer full-time, part-time, and modular programmes |
| Student-led clubs | Social and extracurricular activities counter online isolation |
| Values-led bursaries | Ukrainian bursaries show genuine social mission |
What to Do Differently
| Lesson | GenEvolve Application |
|---|---|
| Go beyond exams | Portfolio assessment, not GCSEs; measure real learning, not memorisation |
| SEND-first design | Build for neurodivergent students; don't assume self-discipline for flipped model |
| Technology investment | Use AI for personalised learning, not just traditional teaching delivered online |
| Scale for sustainability | Don't cap at 10-12 per class if it limits viability; use AI to personalise at larger scale |
| OEAS accreditation | Pursue DfE accreditation proactively; Highgrove hasn't yet |
Strategic Assessment
Highgrove is the best traditional online school in the UK by results. It proves that online education can deliver exceptional academic outcomes. But it's playing the traditional game — GCSEs, A-Levels, league-table results.
GenEvolve's positioning: "Highgrove proves you can get outstanding results online. We prove you can get outstanding outcomes without the exam factory."
The 78% A*/A at A-Level is a powerful statistic that validates online schooling. GenEvolve needs its own equivalent: demonstrable outcomes that show portfolio-based, child-led education produces results — whether that's university acceptance rates, employability metrics, wellbeing scores, or creative portfolio quality.
Threat Level: LOW-MEDIUM (different philosophy; competes for the same "parents leaving mainstream" demographic but offers traditional curriculum)
Sources: Highgrove Education website, World Schools, Digital Journal, Shelley Crowther WhatsApp (28 Feb 2026). Cost: Gemini grounding (free tier).