Booking is now open - Book your FREE VIP tickets now!
The Online Schools Show is a unique opportunity for families to meet leading online schools face-to-face – all together in Central London.
Discover just how varied online education has become, from highly structured schools with live daily lessons to flexible programmes where students learn at their own pace, as well as specialist creative and SEND provision.
Meet the schools, hear from schools, parents and students in our Talks Programme, ask your questions and book private one-to-one meetings with the schools that interest you most – all completely free.
The Show takes place in the heart of the City of London at:
CLS, 107 Queen Victoria Street
London
EC4V 3AL
The Show runs over two days and you are welcome to attend on one or both days:
> Friday 30 October: 10am–7pm
> Saturday 31 October: 10am–4pm
You can arrive at any time during opening hours and stay for as long as you wish.
Your FREE VIP ticket also gives you access to the Affordable Boarding Show taking place alongside the Online Schools Show.
Simply book your FREE VIP tickets online here before the Show.
Visitors aged 16 and over should be registered individually, with anyone aged 16–18 accompanied by an adult.
Families can make one family booking and then tell us how many people will be attending on that ticket – there’s no limit on the number of family members you can bring.
Once booked, we’ll also keep you informed about the Show and let you know when private meeting bookings open.
Give us an hour or two – or make a day of it – and discover what online education could offer your child.
Instead of spending countless hours comparing websites, prospectuses and different approaches, meet leading online schools together in one place and discover how they actually work.
Compare live and flexible learning models, curricula, qualifications, teaching, pastoral support, school communities and opportunities.
Ask the questions that matter, meet schools privately and hear directly from families and young people with first-hand experience.
You may arrive simply curious and leave having discovered an approach to education you had never seriously considered before.
There isn’t one single model – and that is one of the most interesting things to discover at the Show.
Some online schools offer live, teacher-led lessons and structured school days; others give students much greater freedom over when and how they learn.
Some specialise in particular subjects or needs, while others provide a broad education from Primary through GCSE and A Level.
Many also offer pastoral care, clubs, assemblies, mentoring, social activities, trips and opportunities to meet classmates in person.
Come and discover just how different an online school can be from what you may imagine.
You’ll be able to meet a carefully selected group of online schools offering very different approaches to education.
Our participating schools include academically ambitious international schools, highly flexible learning models, specialist creative education and dedicated SEND provision.
Every school is different, which is exactly what makes meeting them together so valuable.
Compare teaching styles, timetables, curricula, qualifications, pastoral support, activities and school communities – and talk directly to the people who know each school best.
Visit our Exhibiting Schools page to discover all the schools taking part.
Our participating schools offer recognised academic pathways including GCSEs, International GCSEs, A Levels, International A Levels, BTECs and other vocational and international qualifications, depending on the school.
Some have students achieving outstanding examination results and progressing to leading universities in the UK and worldwide; others offer specialist pathways designed around particular talents, ambitions or learning needs.
At the Show you can discuss results, subjects, qualifications, university pathways and academic support directly with each school and find the right level of challenge for you.
Far more young people than you might imagine.
Online education can work brilliantly for academically ambitious students, young people who want to accelerate or learn at their own pace, athletes and performers balancing demanding schedules, creative students, internationally mobile families and children who simply prefer learning outside a conventional classroom.
It can also transform education for some young people with SEND, health needs, anxiety or other circumstances that make traditional schooling difficult.
The important question isn’t whether there is one “type” of online student – it’s whether a particular school and approach is right for your child.
Online school does not have to mean learning alone.
Depending on the school, students may meet classmates throughout live lessons, assemblies, form groups, clubs, projects, social spaces and wellbeing sessions, with some schools also arranging trips, activities and in-person meet-ups.
The experience varies considerably between schools, so this is an excellent question to ask at the Show.
Come to the Show to find out how students make friends, how schools build community and what happens beyond lessons – and encourage your child to ask existing students what online school life is really like.
Potentially very flexible – but again, schools differ enormously.
Some provide a structured timetable of live lessons much like a physical school. Others combine live teaching with independent learning, while some have no live lessons or fixed timetable at all, allowing students considerable control over when and where they study.
That means online education can fit around everything from elite sport, performing arts and international travel to health needs and family life.
The Show is a great opportunity to compare those models and decide how much structure – or freedom – would suit your child.
See the Plan Your Visit page on this website here for full details about the Show venue at CLS in Central London, planning your travel and answers to lots of other questions you may have about attending on Friday 30 October and Saturday 31 October.
Everyone interested in discovering more about online education is welcome.
You might already be actively searching for an online school, wondering whether your child could learn differently, planning several years ahead or simply curious about how online schooling actually works.
Parents, children, young people and other family members are all welcome.
Whether you arrive with a shortlist or knowing almost nothing about online education, come along, ask questions and explore the possibilities.
Absolutely! Children of all ages are welcome and we particularly encourage you to bring the young person whose education you’re considering.
Choosing a school is about them, after all. They can meet schools themselves, ask their own questions and start to get a feel for where they might be happy.
And because it’s Halloween, we’ve made sure there’s some extra fun too, with our Show magician teaching tricks, free face painting and sweet treats to collect around the Show.
There’s plenty to discover!
Meet leading online schools face-to-face, chat with their teams, attend free 40-minute talks and book private one-to-one meetings with the schools that interest you most.
Compare different approaches to online education, discover how lessons and school life work in practice and hear directly from schools, parents and students.
You can also explore the Affordable Boarding Show, collect your VIP goodies, enjoy refreshments and, for Halloween, there’ll be magic, face painting and sweet treats too.
Come for an hour or two or make a day of it – it’s entirely up to you.
Yes. You can chat informally with all the schools around the exhibition, but your FREE VIP ticket also gives you the opportunity to book private meetings of up to 20 minutes with the schools that interest you most.
It’s your chance to talk in more depth and ask about anything from teaching, timetables and class sizes to qualifications, pastoral support, friendships, activities, fees and applications – and get a better feel for whether an online school could be right for you.
Private meetings last for up to 20 minutes and take place in dedicated meeting rooms at the Online Schools Show.
Booking will open approximately two weeks before the Show, when everyone who has booked a VIP ticket will be invited to arrange meetings with the schools that interest them.
There is no limit to the number you can request, so you can make the most of having so many online schools together in one place.
Our free Talks Programme gives you the opportunity to hear directly from online schools, parents, students and other speakers about online education and the questions families really want answered.
Talks last approximately 40 minutes and take place throughout both days of the Show.
Discover whether online school could be right for your family, hear about making the move from a physical school, explore qualifications and what comes next, and ask your own questions.
There’s no need to reserve a place – simply come along to whichever talks interest you, listen, learn and join the conversation.
That’s entirely up to you.
You can arrive at any time during opening hours and come for an hour or two, or make a day of it.
You’re also welcome to leave and return later the same day.
If there are particular Talks or private meetings you want to attend, we recommend planning your visit around those – otherwise, simply arrive when it suits you and explore at your own pace.
Apart from booking your FREE VIP ticket, you don’t have to – but a little planning can help you get even more from your visit.
Take a look at the Exhibiting Schools and Talks Programme beforehand and think about what matters most to your family.
You might want to compare live and flexible learning, subjects and qualifications, school timetables, pastoral support, social opportunities or how online education could fit around your child’s particular interests and needs.
Private meeting bookings will open around two weeks before the Show, and ticket holders will be invited to book directly.
Talks don’t need to be reserved – simply turn up and take a seat.
We want you to explore the Show in comfort. There’ll be places to sit and take a break, a Cafe selling tea, coffee, cold drinks and snacks, and a free cloakroom where you can leave your coat while you look around.
> For security and space reasons, please travel light: suitcases, large travel bags and rucksacks larger than the standard holdall/backpack size cannot be brought into the Show.
> Pets are also not permitted for safety and hygiene reasons.
Yes. The Online Schools Show venue, CLS in Central London, has lift access to all floors used by the Show and accessible toilets.
If you have particular accessibility requirements or would like to check anything before attending, please contact the Show team in advance and we’ll be happy to help you plan your visit.
Yes – completely free!
Your FREE VIP ticket gives you access to the Online Schools Show, Exhibiting Schools, the Talks Programme and the opportunity to book private school meetings, as well as all the added extras taking place around the Show.
Better still, your ticket also gives you full access to the Affordable Boarding Show taking place alongside it.
Quite a lot! Your FREE VIP ticket includes entry to both the Online Schools Show and the Affordable Boarding Show, access to all participating schools and both Talks Programmes, and the opportunity to book private one-to-one school meetings.
You’ll also receive your VIP bag with Show Guide, pen and goodies, plus Halloween fun including our magician, face painting and sweet treats.
All you need to pay for are any refreshments you choose to buy from the Cafe.
Simply book your FREE VIP tickets online here before the Show.
Visitors aged 16 and over should be registered individually, with anyone aged 16–18 accompanied by an adult.
Families can make one family booking and then tell us how many people will be attending on that ticket – there’s no limit on the number of family members you can bring.
Once booked, we’ll also keep you informed about the Show and let you know when private meeting bookings open.
The Affordable Boarding Show takes place alongside the Online Schools Show and introduces families to remarkable boarding schools they may never previously have considered.
Meet leading schools from the UK, Ireland and South Africa offering excellent education, boarding and opportunities at fees substantially below those charged by many typical UK independent boarding schools.
There’s also a dedicated Affordable Boarding Show Talks Programme where schools, parents, students and other speakers can share their experiences and answer your questions.
Affordable boarding doesn’t mean compromising on the quality of education or experience.
The schools taking part in the Affordable Boarding Show offer an alternative to the high fees associated with many UK independent boarding schools.
Exhibiting Schools currently have annual boarding fees ranging from approximately £13,000 to £28,000, while offering strong academics, pastoral care, activities and vibrant school communities.
Different funding models and education systems in England, Ireland and South Africa help make those fees possible.
If boarding has ever interested you – or you had dismissed it purely because of cost – this is a chance to look again.
Yes! Whichever Show brings you through the door, you’re welcome to explore both.
The Online Schools Show and the Affordable Boarding Show have their own identities and Talks Programmes, but at the venue they come together in one exhibition, with online and boarding schools sharing the exhibition space.
Check in once and you’re free to move between them, meet schools from both Shows and discover two very different approaches to education.
Absolutely. Your FREE VIP ticket gives you access to the boarding schools exhibiting alongside the online schools, as well as the Affordable Boarding Show Talks Programme.
You can chat with boarding schools around the exhibition and, just like the online schools, arrange private meetings with those you’d particularly like to speak to.
Both Shows are there for you to explore, so please make the most of them.
Because finding the right education is ultimately more important than choosing a particular type of school.
Online education and boarding school may appear to sit at opposite ends of the spectrum, but families considering either are often asking the same fundamental questions:
Where will a young person be happy? Where will they be understood, challenged and supported? What opportunities will they have? Which environment will help them thrive?
You may decide online education is absolutely right for you – or discover a boarding school and an entirely different opportunity you hadn’t seriously considered before.
With leading schools from both worlds together in one place, why not explore all your options?
The Online College of Art & Design (OCAD) offers flexible online art, design, photography and music education, with expert creative tuition, recognised qualifications and personalised pathways towards university and creative careers.
National Online School (NOS) provides personalised, therapeutic education for ages 9–25 with SEND, combining live teaching and specialist support to build confidence, qualifications and independence.
Cambridge Home School Online offers ambitious British education for ages 5–19, with live teaching in classes of no more than 10, individual support and a vibrant international community.
Minerva Virtual Academy (MVA) offers flexible British education for ages 11–18, combining live expert teaching, weekly one-to-one mentoring and strong academics with a vibrant, supportive community.
