It is the mission of Oxford Online School to provide students with a fully online education that not only equals that which can be found in private brick-and-mortar institutions but goes beyond it. Delivering the means for students from primary age through to A-level to excel academically, all whilst developing their skills and nurturing their growth into responsible citizens, this is a school that fosters curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking through personalised and innovative online teaching methods. Named as the Most Inclusive e-Learning Academy 2024 – South East England, we catch up with the school’s principal, Ajla Duckollari, for more.

Thanks to the power of cutting-edge modern technology, Oxford Online School has created a dynamic learning environment, one which transcends borders and delivers flexibility and inclusivity to all students. This passion is reflected in the core values of academic excellence, innovation, and a commitment to nurturing both personal growth and character development in every student, values which serve as the fundamental cornerstones of this e-learning academy and help its pupils to realise their full potential.

As Founder and Principal Ajla Duckollari explains: “What truly sets us apart is our dedication to helping students who may have been underserved by traditional education systems.” Regardless of an individual’s circumstances, they will be welcomed into the inclusive environment that Oxford Online School (OOS) nurtures, which sees all students carry out their GCSEs and A-levels through a range of accredited exam boards at this fully recognised online school, which also offers summer and entrepreneurship short courses.

Every element of the robust OOS curriculum is distinctive and exceptional, with each of these integral parts contributing to an encompassing wider educational experience that is a unique take on more than 30 of the widely renowned subjects studied in Britain’s classrooms. This is especially true of OOS’ in-depth online A-level programme, which is distinguished as a result of its deliberately encompassing nature, spanning the cultivation of such skills as research and leadership in addition to the studying of their regular academic subjects.

OOS’ drive to go above and beyond when it comes to its A-level students can be seen through the recent partnership it formed with a leading UK university, done so as to support PGCE students by affording them online teaching experiences carried out in real time. The invaluable hands-on experiences provided during these sessions is something that can make a world of difference for students, helping them to gain confidence in teaching whilst also mastering the ever-changing virtual classroom environment.

As this example highlights, the skills students are taught in this online education setting set them up to thrive wherever their journey takes them after their time with the school, be it an apprenticeship or a degree at any university in the world.

Whatever it is their destiny lies in, the full academic support provided by OOS helps students plan out their anext steps, be it through helping them research their chosen degree or understand which exam results and extra-curricular activities stand them in the best stead for their desired career.

It is not only at university age that OOS puts a key emphasis on its students developing their passions and skills outside of the day-to-day curriculum however, and the flexibility of its online primary, lower secondary, GCSE, and A-level programmes means that pupils are free to pursue everything from sports and performing arts to internships in their spare time. “This is a unique benefit that allows students to develop holistically,” explains Ajla, “pursuing their academic goals whilst also focusing on other areas of life.”

Launching in 2020, OOS began its journey at a time when people were being forced into online learning as a result of the pandemic, a transition that was difficult for many due to them being so used to a traditional schooling environment. For those who have always found physical school to be challenging however, be it due to personal circumstances or because they pursue some time-consuming activity outside of school, OOS’ entirely online way of learning can be a breath of fresh air.

Cleary then, for OOS, online learning is not a limitation, but a true strength. The quality of the teaching provided across these courses is bolstered by the fact that Ajla and her team choose to partake in the voluntary Ofsted inspections which have recently been rolled out to online schools. Not only does this process highlight the increasing validity of the digital classroom in wider society, but it highlights OOS’ dedication to benchmarking its standards on a national level, ensuring that the online learning it provides is truly stellar.

Remaining at the forefront of the UK’s digital classroom scene is the primary aim of OOS over the next five years or so, and just like in almost every sector, doing so will require the implementation of AI technology. Determined to utilise AI and other such technologies to bolster critical thinking across the educational spectrum, OOS recognises that the way to get the most out of AI is to deploy it with a distinctly human touch, a balance it has already struck throughout its suite of online primary, secondary, and A-level programmes.

For Ajla: “If we think of AI more as a part of our toolbelt than something to be ‘used’, there will be better results in education. AI is changing the game in terms of opening barriers and affording access to more academia, which has traditionally been clad behind iron walls of massive fees, and disregard for the sixth former as not being able to complete higher level research.” As mentioned above, research skills are given priority at OOS, with all A-level students required to complete an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).

These EPQs are the equivalent of 50% of an A-level and are worth up to a maximum of 28 UCAS points – which are the points acquired across this level of study and are used by universities to assess whether or not a student should be offered a place on one of its courses. Ajla adds: “Having students complete successful EPQs and receive As and A*s is one of the biggest goals each year, as this ensures that each cohort has a strong set of research skills that they will be able to use in and out of the classroom.”

As for OOS’ other focus areas, Ajla tells us: “Another goal this year is increasing the globalisation of our online classroom, and we are exploring both local and international partnerships to further enhance the global reach and diversity of our educational programmes. These initiatives will help us to continue growing whilst also maintaining the high standards of personalised, flexible learning that our school is known for.”

Having been in the education industry now for more than 12 years, four of which have been spent as the head of OOS, Ajla Duckollari has, with help from some truly expert teaching staff, succeeded in building the most inclusive online school in the UK. With diverse students from all over the world lining its learning environment, Oxford Online School is filled with rich perspectives, quality educational experiences, and the sort of commitment to futures that parents have come to expect from private education in the UK.