When one British family’s son completed his GCSEs, the family faced a difficult question familiar to many parents living abroad: what comes next?
Their son had attended both Spanish and British international schools since childhood in Mallorca, Spain. He was bright and capable, but as his mother soon realised, his true passion lay outside the traditional academic route. “He’s a clever kid,” his mother explains, “but his real passion is the creative route.” After his GCSEs, it became clear that continuing in the same school system wouldn’t allow that passion to flourish.
Re‑evaluating What Education Should Look Like
Like many British families abroad, their family found that local schooling options offered solid academics but limited flexibility, especially for students with creative ambitions. Their son was keen to pursue fine art and design, but his school’s sixth form programme couldn’t offer the quality of teaching or the breadth of opportunities he needed to thrive.
“When he finished his GCSEs, the art teaching was hopeless,” his mother says frankly. “They’d all passed, but the results weren’t what anyone expected.” The family’s trust in traditional, in‑person schooling wavered. It wasn’t that their son disliked school; rather, the system around him wasn’t structured to support his goals.
That realisation sparked a search beyond the confines of local schools. “We were faced with a dilemma,” she recalls. “He wanted to study fine arts but also have some academic foundation. He needed something that could combine both worlds.”
Discovering a Hybrid Pathway
In Mallorca, the family came across a Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Creative Arts, a vocational qualification recognised in the UK as the first stage of university‑level study in creative subjects. The programme offered a blend of in‑person studio work and online learning. For the first time, their son had a chance to explore his artistic side seriously.
But one piece was missing: what about his A levels? The family began searching online for a flexible but rigorous way for their son to continue his academic education. “I started Googling ‘bespoke online schools’ and that’s how I found Highgrove,” she remembers.
Highgrove Education offered exactly what the family was looking for: genuine A level study that could fit around their son’s art course. The school’s flexible timetable meant their artistic and academically ambitious son could study Business and Spanish through Highgrove while dedicating three full days each week to his studio practice.
A Tailored Experience
This hybrid approach of two A levels completed entirely online alongside the creative arts diploma has proved transformational for their son.
“Highgrove allowed him to focus,” his mother explains. “In a traditional classroom, with fifteen other students, it’s easy for a teacher not to notice when someone switches off for a few minutes. But online, with small groups or even one‑to‑one lessons, there’s nowhere to drift. That structure made a huge difference.”
In fact, he enjoyed his Spanish lessons so much that he completed his A level in just one academic year and earned an A. His Business Studies classes have remained small and engaging, giving him plenty of personal attention and meaningful interaction with his teachers.
The family has also noticed that communication between parents and staff is far smoother than in a brick‑and‑mortar school. Questions are answered quickly, concerns are addressed directly, and teachers know each student personally. “You don’t have to wait weeks to arrange a meeting,” she says. “You send a message, and the teacher themselves replies. The attention to the students and the parents is second to none.”
Building Independence and Confidence
More than just academic success, the family has seen their son grow into a confident, self‑motivated learner. “He’s building a rapport with his teachers that’s preparing him for university life,” she says. “He’s no longer seen as a child in a classroom but as a young adult taking responsibility for his own studies.”
That balance between structure and independence has helped their son prepare for his next step. He now holds four university offers in the UK, one unconditional, to study Product Design, a path that beautifully combines his artistic flair with his understanding of business.
The family sees the synergy clearly: “His Business Studies feed into his creative work. Understanding marketing, design decisions, and the realities of industry. It’s all connected.”
Rethinking What’s Possible
For this family, the biggest surprise has been realising how effective and personal online education can be, especially when combined with practical learning. Highgrove’s willingness to adapt scheduling around their son’s studio commitments was a crucial factor. “They’ve always been flexible,” she says. “Right from the start, they accommodated his art days, and it’s never been a problem.”
Living abroad, she adds, often means fewer schooling options. “In the UK, you can find every kind of sixth form or college. But when you’re overseas, and you want to stick with the British system, you’re often restricted, particularly if your child’s interests don’t align neatly with the mainstream A level route.”
Advice for Other Parents
This family encourages other families to be bold when it comes to exploring alternatives.
“It’s very important that the student is fully involved in deciding their path. Parents should talk openly with their child about both traditional and online learning and even speak to other families who’ve tried it. Ultimately, the decision should come from the student, so they take ownership and succeed from the start.”
Highgrove’s bespoke programme, she says, made it possible for their son to balance the academic rigour of A levels with a creative qualification more closely aligned to his long‑term ambitions.
“There’s no right or wrong pathway. What matters is finding the right fit for your child. Be brave and look outside the box because a tailored approach might be exactly what helps your child thrive,” his mother explains.
Ready to Explore Your Own Options?
If you’re a British family living overseas, or simply looking for a more flexible, student‑centred approach, Highgrove Education can help your child combine academic excellence with meaningful independence.
